SUKMA 2022: Perlis target at least one gold in weightlifting

KANGAR: The Perlis weightlifting squad aim to bring home at least one gold medal from the Kuala Lumpur 2022 Malaysia Games (SUKMA), scheduled to take place in August, to make up for their failure to win any gold at the Perak SUKMA in 2018.

Head coach Mohd Faiz Musa said Perlis would be sending 10 weightlifters to the SUKMA this time and was confident in the ability of his charges as they had been making preparations since 2018.

I don't want to reveal which categories are expected contribute medals for Perlis because it is part of our team's strategy.

"I can only say that the Perlis weightlifting squad will try to collect as many medals as possible at the SUKMA this time," he told Bernama recently.

Nuraina Badul, 21, one of the Perlis women weightlifters who will be competing in the Kuala Lumpur SUKMA, said she and her other teammates are confident of winning medals .

"Despite the MCOs (lockdowns during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic), the coaches had taken the initiative to send the training weights to our homes so as to help us maintain our performance.

"In fact, we also followed all the programmes arranged by the management and the Perlis State Sports Council (MSN) for us," said Nuraina, who will be competing in the 87 kilogramme category.

Meanwhile, MSN Perlis director, Anuar Abidin said the weightlifting squad had good prospects to contribute medals and may surprise some other states.

"With the existing coaching line-up and weightlifters, I expect we will give our best performance and produce weightlifters who can represent the country," he said.

-- BERNAMA