Uplifting outing for bronze winner Aniq ahead of Birmingham
WEIGHTLIFTER Aniq Kasdan is on the right path to flex his muscles at July’s Birmingham Commonwealth Games after smashing his national record en route to a bronze medal.
The 20-year-old from Segamat lifted a 252kg total in the 55kg category to improve on his fifth placing which he did in his Games debut in the Philippines in 2019.
His feat yesterday erased his previous total of 249kg when he made his way into the history books as the first Malaysian to win a medal at the World Weightlifting Championships in Uzbekistan in December last year.
At the meet, he clinched silver in the clean and jerk by lifting 142kg to finish fifth overall.
In Hanoi, Aniq began his campaign by lifting 105kg and 110kg in the snatch but failed at 115kg in the final and third attempt. In the clean and jerk, Aniq cleared 139kg and subsequently 142kg but failed after the weight was raised to 147kg.
“I’m not sad as I tried my best to finish on the podium. I did not get anything in my first Games but now I managed to deliver a medal despite not getting enough competition in the last two years because of the Covid-19 situation.
“I only took part in the national championships in Pahang last year where I was the only lifter in the 55kg class and then went straight to the world championships and then here.
“I now have a clearer picture of what I need to do for the Commonwealth Games and next year’s SEA Games in Cambodia,” added Aniq, who will be heading to Birmingham as the top ranked lifter in the Commonwealth.
The hosts’ Lai Gia Thanh was in smashing form as he defended his title with a new Games record for clean and jerk (148kg).
The Vietnamese topped the competition with a 268kg total ahead of Thailand’s Thada Somboon-uan, who managed 256kg.