Sabah dominate weightlifting c’ship

KOTA KINABALU: Hosts Sabah concluded the National Invitational Weightlifting Championship with nine gold, five silver and one bronze medals yesterday.

Held at Asia City Complex here, it was the most gold won by any of the participating contingents.

However, there was no overall champions title on offer in the championship that attracted 10 teams.

Second place fell to Sarawak with seven golds, six silvers and one bronze while Johor were in third position with three golds and three silvers.

The last of the gold Sabah won was on the final day of the tournament yesterday in the Senior Men 94kg category.

Junior Lius was the winner for the hosts with his total lift of 230kg. He succeeded with 105kg attempt in Snatch and 125kg for Clean & Jerk.

It was a fitting closing to Sabah challenge in the championship, which they dominated especially on Tuesday’s opening day.

The hosts opened with seven golds 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).

Sheren Lueh then added two more golds on the second day from the women’s senior and junior 63kg competition.

Sabah Weightlifting Association (SWA) sent 12 athletes to the championship.

Overall, 58 athletes from 10 teams nationwide participated in the championship.

For the record, the winners of the respective categories were based on the total weight achieved but junior athletes had the chance to win a second medal as their efforts were also counted for the senior category.

Sabah Sports Council director Terrance Pudin and SWA president Philip Gisan were among those present at the closing of the championship.

PRIZE PRESENTATION ... Terrance (seated centre) and Philip (seated 2nd right) with organising committee pose with the medallists for one of the categories contested on the final day of the National Invitational Weightlifting Championship here yesterday.