Tambunan weightlifting lass to represent country at Gold Coast 2018
KOTA KINABALU: Marceeta Marlyn Marcus has been selected to represent Malaysia in the XXI Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, Australia from April 4 to 15.
Tambunan lass Marceeta is the only Sabahan in the national weightlifting squad for the Games, or commonly known as Gold Coast 2018, which comprise six male and four female athletes.
Sabah Weightlifting Association (SWA) president Philip Gisan revealed the selection of Marceeta at the on-going National Weightlifting Championship at Asia City here.
“SWA (is) very proud of her inclusion in the Commonwealth Games.
“With her inclusion, Sabah continue to have a representative in the international weightlifting sport arena,” Philip said via the WhatsApp Messenger yesterday.
Two more Sabah athletes, Loro Welkinson and Freanceay Titus, however did not make the Gold Coast 2018-bound national squad, he disclosed.
“Loro and Freanceay had been sent for overseas training for the Games, but this time luck was not with them.
“Hopefully, Marceeta will flourish and be successful in the Commonwealth Games,” added Philip of the 58kg division competitor.
For the record, the other national athletes for the Games are (men) Muhammad Erry Hidayat, Che Mohd Azrul, Mohd Aznil Bidin, Abdul Mubin Rahim, Fazrul Azrie Mohdad and Muhammad Noor Farhan Ideris.
The female athletes are Sharifah Inani Najwa Syed Anuar, Jabriella Teoh, Siti Aisyah Rosli apart from Marceeta.
Marceeta will be joined by Sabah’s national weightlifting coach Nicholas Wong at the Gold Coast.
“He is among the two coaches to train and accompany our Commonwealth Games squad,” Philip said.
Meanwhile, Wong said Marceeta qualified for the Games on merit following her performance at the 2016 Senior Commonwealth Championship in Penang.
However, Wong said Marceeta was not set any target in Gold Coast 2018.
“Not (a) medal prospect. The competition is more for her to do her personal best.
“She is still young, only 20 years old this year. So, we are not setting any target for her at this moment,” said Wong yesterday.
Marceeta and her fellow national weightlifters will be going to the Pre-Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia from February 11 to 16.
It will be part of their exposure programme in preparation for the Gold Coast 2018.