Aniq hopes weightlifters can end two-decade drought at the Sea Games
KUALA LUMPUR: National weightlifter Aniq Kasdan is hoping he and his teammates can end Malaysia's long wait for a gold medal in the sport at the Thailand Sea Games in December.
Malaysia has not won a gold medal at biennial games since the late Che Mohd Azrol Che Mat won back-to-back golds at Hanoi 2003 and Manila 2005.
Aniq assured that Malaysian weightlifters will definitely give it their all in Bangkok.
"Of course we will try our best to win gold at the Sea Games," said Aniq when met recently.
"We have not won a Sea Games gold in a very long time, in fact the person who last won gold for us has passed away.
"The closest we have got recently was through Aznil Bidin who won silver (men's under-61kg) at the Hanoi Sea Games.
"If possible, we want to do better than that this time."
Aniq set a new national record at the time en route to winning bronze in the men's under-55kg class at Hanoi 2021. He has since moved up to the under-61kg class, which has now been abolished.
Aniq, who finished fourth at the Paris Olympics last year, will compete in the new under-60kg class from now on and expects the competition to be just as fierce.
Aznil and Aniq did not compete at the 2023 Phnom Penh Sea Games as they were focusing on qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Malaysia won one gold at the Phnom Penh games through Nur Syazwani Radzi (women's under-64kg).
"I think the countries which are usually strong at the Sea Games will continue to be just as good," said Aniq, a four-time world championship medallist.
"However, with this change in weight class, there could be some new contenders. We just have to wait and see."
Indonesia's Eko Yuli Irawan, who won gold in the Under-61kg division at Phnom Penh 2023 is again expected to be among the favourites. The 37-year-old is a four-time Olympic medallist.
Thailand's Theerapong Silachai, who clinched silver at last year's Paris Olympics, is also expected to be among the favourites. Like Aniq, the 21-year-old is also a rising star in his country.
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