GOLD COAST, 6 April 2018:
The Malaysian contingent started well on the first day of the 2018 Commonwealth Games by winning two gold medals in weightlifting.
The country’s first gold medal was won by Muhammad Azroy Hazal Wafie Izhar Ahmad in the 56kg category with a total lift of 261kg – which was a record for the tournament.
Muhammad Azroy Hazal Wafie also emerged as the first gold medallist of the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Earlier, the 24-year-old athlete from Pahang performed a 117kg lift in the snatch – which erased the 116kg record of Amirul Hamizan Ibrahim in the 2010 edition in New Delhi, India.
In the clean & jerk event, Muhammad Azroy Hazal Wafie lifted 144kg.
Another national strongman Muhamad Aznil Bidin contributed the second gold in the 62kg category after making a 288kg lift, 126kg for the snatch and 162kg for the clean & jerk.
Meanwhile at the Anna Maeres Velodrome, the national track cycling squad failed to shine in the qualifying round while para cycling athlete Muhamad Afiq Afify Rizan finished fourth in the tandem (B) 1000 metre men’s time trial event.
The national men’s sprint squad, which earlier had the chance to win the bronze medal, were however forced to concur with the time achieved by the hosts – after a re-race that left the nation’s riders out of the third round and fourth round deciders.
Sad news was also received from national cycling team when national coach John Beasley said Mohd Azizulhasni Awang would only participate in the keirin event due to poor health.
He said the former world keirin champion was forced to withdraw from the sprint and would only participate in the keirin event and hoped the rider, dubbed ‘The Pocket Rocketman’, could do something today.
The squash camp headed by Datuk Nicol David saw six of the seven players who were fielded yesterday advancing to the next level.
In addition to Nicol, two other women’s singles players S. Sivasangari and Aifa Azman also advanced while in the men’s singles event, only Ng Eain Yow lost in the first round after developing cramps when in the deciding set against Rex Hedrick from Australia.
The national badminton squad led by Datuk Lee Chong Wei won 5-0 against Ghana in the team event.
Malaysian athletes would continue to pursue medals today and the focus would surely be on track cycling ace Azizulhasni and Malaysian strongman Muhammad Erry Hidayat in the 69kg weightlifting category.
The Pahang state government is considering to give a plot of land and cash as a reward to national weightlifter Azroy for winning the gold medal.
State Youth and Sports Committee chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Johari Hussain said the success of the Rompin-born athlete was much appreciated, as Azroy also emerged as the country’s first athlete to contribute a gold medal at the Games.
“On behalf of the state government, I congratulate Azroy for his achievement, and also to the coach who worked hard to form a champion from the district in Pahang.
“Azroy’s success also upheld Rompin’s image as the birthplace of ‘Badang’ (legendary Southeast Asian strongman) and its status as a region known for its weightlifting prowess.”
Meanwhile, national weightlifting squad manager Amirul Hamizan Ibrahim said Azroy’s gold medal in the 56kg category had been anticipated by many.
“Azroy wouldn’t have had any problems because he had practised well…we were just worried he may be under pressure because he is competing at a large-scale event.”
Azroy’s mother, Rohana Ahmad, 45, said her second of eight children had asked her to watch him live on TV.
“When Angah (referring to Azroy) was announced as the winner, I felt like I was going to pass out…my son won a gold medal for the country, I was overwhelmed with emotion,” she told reporters when met at her home in Kampung Sepakat, here.
She said in a video call after winning the medal, Azroy said: “Angah wants to take ‘ma’ (mother) for umrah.”
Rohana said she was convinced from the very beginning that Azroy was capable of winning the gold medal although her son was somewhat sceptical of his own ability.
She said she would send words of encouragement through WhatsApp almost everyday to boost his morale.
“I told him that he was capable of winning and bringing home a gold medal for me and his siblings.
“He is a person who is committed to what he does and trains hard every single time. I have seen the sacrifices he has made since he got involved in the sport at the age of 14.
“I’m proud of him, all his hardships and sacrifices paid off with this success.”
– Bernama