From Ahmad Nazrin Syahmi Mohamad Arif
GLASGOW, July 30 (Bernama) -- Malaysian weightlifter Siti Aqilah Farhana Draman said she competed without any lofty expectations and focused solely on each lift as she stunned the field to win a historic silver medal in the women's +86kg event on her Commonwealth Games debut.
The 20-year-old from Kuala Nerus, Terengganu admitted she never expected to finish second, especially as she was not considered among the leading contenders for a podium finish before the competition.
"I really did not expect to win because I do not think any target had been set for me. Even if there was one, it was probably just a bronze medal, but I never imagined I would win silver.
"The gap to the gold medal was not that big. Hopefully, four years from now, I can win the gold, God willing," she told Bernama after the competition at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) Armadillo here today.
Having joined the national squad only two years ago, Siti Aqilah created history as the first Malaysian woman to win a Commonwealth Games weightlifting silver medal after recording a total lift of 253kg, comprising 113kg in the snatch and 140kg in the clean and jerk.
Her total also established a new personal best, which is simultaneously the Malaysian national record.
England's Emily Campbell claimed the gold medal with a Games record total of 278kg, while Canada's Etta Mae Love secured the bronze with 250kg.
Reflecting on her approach throughout the competition, Siti Aqilah said she paid little attention to the standings or her rivals, treating the event as though it were an ordinary training session.
"I did not overthink it. I just wanted to do my best because my coach always tells me that if we give our best, we may be rewarded with a medal. I treated it like training. I did not focus on anyone else, I only focused on the barbell," she said.
She added that she was aware Malaysia's previous best achievement in women's Commonwealth Games weightlifting had been a bronze medal won 16 years ago.
Her silver medal surpassed the achievements of Raihan Yusoff, who won bronze in the women's 53kg event at Delhi 2010, and teammate Irene Jane Henry, who claimed bronze in the women's 48kg category at Glasgow 2014.
"I am very proud and happy to have won the silver medal and created history for my country," she said, adding that she idolises teammate and senior lifter Muhammad Erry Hidayat, who also won the men's 79kg gold medal at this edition.
Siti Aqilah dedicated the medal to her parents back home, her coaches in Terengganu and the National Sports Council (NSC), whom she credited for supporting her preparations.
She also advised aspiring athletes to remain fully committed to training if they hoped to reach the highest level of competition.
"Train hard to reach this stage. Perhaps after this, it will be another athlete's turn to be rewarded. My next target is to win the gold medal at the Commonwealth Games four years from now," she added.
-- BERNAMA