Third day charm as Hafifi lifts Malaysia's first gold medal
BY ERIC SAMUEL
Mohd Hafifi Mansor in action en route to winning the gold medal in the men's 69kg weightlifting final at the Clyde Auditorium. - GLENN GUAN / The Star
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GLASGOW: Malaysia struck jackpot on the third day of the 20th Commonwealth Games picking up their first gold medal through weightlifter Mohd Hafifi Mansor in the men's 69kg category at the Clyde Auditorium on Saturday.
The 24-year-old Hafifi brought cheer and a huge sigh of relief to the Malaysian camp, who waited anxiously to see a golden glitter since the Games began on Thursday. Malaysia had only won two silvers and three bronzes.
There was an air of confidence in Hafifi, who came out for his first lift in the snatch with his arms raised to the audience.
His positive approach worked when he lifted 135kg in the snatch and 170kg in the clean and jerk for a total of 305.
However, his feat was far from his personal best of 141kg in the snatch and 180kg in the clean and jerk.
"I felt very unusual before the start of the competition. I was not my normal self because the pressure was getting to me.
“The expectations was high on me to deliver. But I am glad to get this important gold medal that hopefully will spur on the Malaysian athletes," said Hafifi.
Nigeria's Yinka Ayenuwa won the silver with a lift of 130kg in the snatch and 171kg in the clean and jerk for a total of 301.
India's Omkar Otari took the bronze with 136kg in the snatch and 160kg in the clean and jerk for a total of 296. Malaysia's other representative Mohd Huzairi Ramli finished in fifth place.
This is the second medal from weightlifting after Mohd Zulhelmi Pisol won the silver in the 56kg category on Friday.
