Sabah win 8th gold in National Invitational Weightlifting C’ship
KOTA KINABALU: Hosts Sabah collected eight gold medals after two days of competition in the National Invitational Weightlifting Championship held at Asia City here.
The state clinched the eighth gold through Sheren Lueh on the second day yesterday, who totalled 120 kg (50kg snatch, 70kg clean and jerk) in the women’s junior 63kg.
Sheren also won a silver in the senior category for her efforts.
The winner of the tournament is based on the total weight lifted but junior athletes have the chance to win a second medal for their efforts by also being counted in the senior category.
The other seven gold medals were won on Tuesday’s opening day through Ronny Jesos in the men’s 56kg junior and senior categories; Nelcy Tunik (women 48kg junior and senior); Elly Cassandra Engelbert (women 53kg junior and senior) and Calixtus Daunis (men 62kg senior).
Sabah Weightlifting Association (SWA) secretary Bell Yasoi said Sabah have 12 athletes comprising eight men and four women weightlifters.
Overall, there were 58 athletes from 10 teams nationwide participating in the championship, which will be ending today.
“The number of athletes were reduced because of last minute withdrawals from participants,” he disclosed.
Meanwhile, SWA president Philip Gisan said seven more categories will be contested on the final day today.
Four of them were in the men’s category for 85kg, 94kg, 105kg and below as well as 105kg and above while the women’s events were the 75kg, 90kg and below and 90kg and above.