From Ahmad Nazrin Syahmi Mohamad Arif
GLASGOW, July 30 (Bernama) -- The integrated cooperation between national sports associations, the National Sports Council (NSC), athletes and coaches has been touted as the key factor behind the extraordinary five-gold achievement of Malaysian weightlifters at the 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) deputy president Datuk Dr Nur Azmi Ahmad said the achievement proved that the plans implemented were on the right track, thereby helping the national contingent achieve its target of five gold medals ahead of schedule.
“Congratulations to the weightlifting squad for helping us achieve the (five-gold) target earlier.
“I would like to congratulate especially the successful athletes, the Malaysian Weightlifting Federation (MWF) president and the NSC, who worked together to ensure we achieved our actual target,” he told Bernama here today.
Nur Azmi described winning five gold medals in one sport as an “extraordinary achievement”, adding that the national weightlifting squad would usually deliver two or three gold medals at the quadrennial Games.
He said the fact that Malaysia had sent a smaller contingent to Glasgow made their success even more impressive.
The five Malaysian weightlifting gold medallists are Mohamad Aniq Kasdan (men’s 60kg); Muhamad Aznil Bidin (men’s 65kg); Muhammad Erry Hidayat (men’s 79kg); Muhammad Hafizuddin Roslin (men’s 88kg); and Mohamad Syahmi Nor Ghazali (men’s 94kg).
Malaysia now have six gold medals, with para athlete Datuk Abdul Latif Romly chipping in with one in the men’s T20 long jump event, as well as two silvers and three bronzes from weightlifting, powerlifting and para athletics.
The national contingent had set a target of five golds, two silvers and four bronze for this year’s edition.
Malaysia could still add to their medal tally through lawn bowls, track cycling and judo before the curtain comes down on the Games on Sunday (Aug 2).
-- BERNAMA