Commonwealth Games: Weightlifters win 2 golds for Malaysia
Weightlifters Aniq Kasdan and Aznil Bidin secured Malaysia's first two gold medals at the 2022 Commonwealth Games at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham on Saturday (30 July).
Aniq, who was making his debut at the quadrennial Games, lifted a total of 249kg to set a new Games record en route to winning in the men's 55kg division.
The 20-year-old was in second place after lifting 107kg in the snatch routine, trailing India's Sargar Sanket Mahadev, who had lifted 113kg.
However, Mahadev suffered an injury in the clean and jerk routine after lifting 135kg in his first attempt. He was subsequently unsuccessful in his next two attempts, leaving him with a total of 248kg.
This meant Aniq had to lift 142kg in his clean and jerk to win gold, and he took his chance to clinch the gold medal for Malaysia.
Dilanka Isuru Kumara Yodage of Sri Lanka took bronze with a total of 225kg.
Three Games Records of Aznil en route to gold
In the men's 61kg division, Aznil set three Games records as he dominated the field in winning the gold medal.
The 27-year-old, who had also won gold in the 2018 edition in the 62kg division, lifted 127kg in the snatch and 158kg in the clean and jerk for a 285kg total, all records at the Games.
He easily eclipsed silver medallist Morea Baru of Papua New Guinea (273kg total) and bronze medallist Gururaja Gururaja of India (269kg).
Malaysia had won two golds and a bronze in weightlifting at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast.
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