Sabah weightlifters set four-gold target
KOTA KINABALU: Hosts Sabah have set a four-gold target at the National Senior and Junior Weightlifting Championships here from December 9-13.
The five-day tournament will be happening at the Event Hall, Starcity Asia City.
Sabah Weightlifting Association (SWA) secretary-cum-team manager Bell Yasoi yesterday said 15 athletes would carry the state’s challenge to achieve the target in the championships.
They include the 19th Malaysia Games (Sukma) gold medallists and record breakers Elly Cascandra Engelbert and Marceeta Marlyne Marcus.
The rest of the squad are Calvin Jikulis (55kg), Velerick Martin (55kg), Callixtus Daunis (61kg), Kevdylan Wong (67kg), Arthur Liew (73kg) and St. Francis Xavier (89kg) in the men’s event while Fandylina Adim (45kg), Caseyndra Junaity (45kg), Debora Peterr (59kg), Vivian Tony (64kg), Anastasia Roger (71kg), Normah Ramandari (76kg) and Caroline Joachim (+87kg) are in the women’s category.
The coaches of the squad are Nicholas Wong, Stephen Gampion, Cornelius and Jerrymax Josue.
Meanwhile, more than 100 athletes from 13 states and affiliates of Malaysia Weightlifting Federation (MWF) plus the Royal Malaysian Police Force (PDRM) and the Armed Forces (ATM) will be taking part in the championships.
President of SWA, Philip Gisan, added that 40 technical officials and coaches too would be involved in the tournament.
Philip went on to say that the Sabah-hosted championship would see the 10 new weight divisions for men and women categories being contested for the very first time.
The men’s competition will be in the 55kg, 61kg, 67kg, 73kg, 81kg, 89kg, 96kg, 102kg, 109kg and above 109kg divisions.
As for the women, the weight divisions are 45kg, 49kg, 55kg, 59kg, 64kg, 71kg, 76kg, 81kg, 87kg and above 87kg.
He added that gold, silver and bronze medals would be awarded in the Snatch, Clean & Jerk and Total for each bodyweight category.
“We welcome the public to watch all the actions starting 9am during the five-day competition,” he said.
Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Frankie Poon is expected to officiate at the tournament opening ceremony at Starcity on December 9 at 9:30am.