Hafifi finds the right formula before showdown

NATIONAL weightlifter Mohd Hafifi Mansor displayed captivating form when he surpassed his own national record during a training session prior to the Rio Olympics Games at the Pavillion 5, Rio Centro.

The 25- year- old Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2014 gold medallist lifted 145kg in the snatch to surpass his own national mark of 141kg set during the World Championships in Paris in 2011.

He also lifted 180kg in the clean and jerk yesterday. He holds the national clean and jerk record of 181kg, which he set four years ago.

“I’m at the best level now and I will give my best,” he said during a two-hour training session under his Chinese coach Wang Zhiqun.

Despite being in upbeat mood, Hafifi admitted to feeling jittery as pressure begins to mount. Team manager Pang Siew Huat described Hafifi’s performance as a good sign that the lifter can break the national record when the 69kg category gets under way on Tuesday.

He said that Hafifi had finally acquired the right technique after a five-month training stint at the Foshan Sports School in Guangzhou, China, before coming over to Rio.

He said the training in China had done a great deal for Mohd Hafifi, with the coach now making adjustments and fine-tuning the technique, besides making sure the lifter does not crumble under pressure.

Siew Huat added that the athlete had shown tremendous improvement during the China stint and had been recording a consistent lifts of around 145kg in snatch and 184kg in clean and jerk.