Abrienda excited to test mettle against top powerlifters in Malta
KUCHING: National Women’s Under 52kg Sub-Junior number one powerlifter Abrienda Chan Pei Xin will represent Malaysia in the International Powerlifitng Federation (IPF) World Classic & Equipped Sub-Junior & Junior Powerlifting Championships in Valletta, Malta from Aug 28 to Sept 8.
The 18-year-old former student of SMK Green Road is one of the only two Malaysians selected by the Malaysian Association of Powerlifting (MAP) to represent the country, the other being Norman Hilman Visser who will participate in the Men’s Under 93kg Junior category.
Abrienda was called up by MAP early this month and her selection was based on her excellent performance at the Asian Classic Powerlifting Championship in Johor Bahru last year in the Women’s Raw Sub-Junior U52kg.
She won the gold in the bench press 55kg and broke the national record, and silvers in the Squat 100kg (national record), Deadlift 130kg (national record) and Total 285kg (national record).
Her achievements last year included winning gold and breaking four national records in the Malaysian National Powerlifting Championships to clinch the Overall Best Women Sub-Junior award.
In 2022 at the Sarawak Powerlifting Open, Abrienda won a gold and broke two national records.
“I feel very proud and honoured that I’m able to qualify and compete under our Malaysian flag in the world stage.
“I also feel very excited about the championship,” Abrienda told The Borneo Post.
She added that by competing in the tournament, it would give her a better understanding of her own level and where she stands among the top international powerlifters.
“I can be more exposed to world championships and will be able to exchange knowledge and experience with all the other powerlifters. “I am targeting a podium finish in Malta and bringing back a medal to Malaysia.
“In fact, I got my first call-up to represent the country in the IPF World Sub-Junior and Junior Championships in Romania in June last year after the national championship.
“Due to the lack of budget and funding problems, I missed out the chance to compete at the world meet,” she added.
To prepare for the world meet, Abrienda is putting in two to three hours per session and four times a week at Strength Asylum under the watchful eyes of Jeong Ji Hoon from South Korea and Sarawak powerlifting head coach Nasrul Faiz.
Nasrul is confident that Abrienda is capable of winning a medal in one of the disciplines in her category.
“As one of the national coaches handling her, I believe she will fight and do her best to make Sarawak and Malaysia proud.
“I also feel proud that she is the first Sarawakian to represent the country in a world competition because the participation in this event is by selection only,” said Nasrul, who is the president of the Sarawak Powerlifting Association.
Prior to the IPF World, Abrienda will take part in the Malaysia National Powerlifting Championships in Kuala Lumpur on May 24-26.
She will also compete in the Asian Classic Powerlifting Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan on Dec 1-10.