Youth talents, including female athletes were showcased at the Brunei National Senior and Youth Weightlifting Championship which concluded on Sunday at the Sports School.
Mohd Amirul Danial bin Mohd Azahasamali won the youth’s under-45 kilogrammes (kg) category, while Muhammad Nur Iman Affandi bin Abdullah Syahrol Iswandy finished second.
In the U-61kg category, Muhd Hazim Aiman bin Mohd Marzuki claimed first ,followed by Muhammad Azib bin Azman. Muhammad Shafli bin Asrigajali emerged as the champion of the 89kg and above category. Mohamad Wa’ie Hijazi bin Mohamad Hilhamd was the runner-up.
Muhammad Shafli of Awang Semaun Secondary School said, “I joined weightlifting out of interest and wanted to test my strength. I have been training for two months for this competition and Alhamdullilah; I won first place.”
Meanwhile, Nurin Jazlina binti Jafry won the women’s U-45kg category, while Rafianna binti Haji A Buntar won the U-49kg. Liyana Safiah binti Sidek claimed first spot in the women’s U-55kg and Amal binti Mahathir was placed second. Jurelena Juna emerged champion in the women’s U-64kg.
Siti Zuraini binti Mohd Sani won the women’s U-71kg category followed by Vivian Peter and Siti Nazihah Nooradin. In the 71kg and over category, Hadirah Latif emerged as the winner and second place went to Siti Khadijah. Abdul Wafi bin Haji Ismail won the men’s U-61kg while Mohammad Nashrul bin Haji Abu Bakar won the U-67kg category with Zulfariq Zainuddin finishing second.
Six contestants competed in the U-73kg category with Ridhwan bin Haji Mohammad emerging as the champion while second and third went to Ethan Lam Ji fung and Husni Damit.
For the men’s U-81kg, Muhammad bin Haji Kamit took first place followed by Ahmed Nadzri Haji Harif. Mohamed Abdulla Fauzan Yahya won the U-89kg category while Mickey Lim and Spencer Chin@ Yohanes came in second and third. Meanwhile, Haji Muhammad Amir Hafizuddin bin Haji Wahdaly won the 89kg and above category.
Marking the event as the first, the association’s Vice President Muhd Hadi Dinie bin Abdul Rahman said, “We hope that this will be the starting point for the development of weightlifting in the country and encourage more people to join in the future.”
He added, “I am touched by the young athletes who participated in the competition, especially the five athletes from Sports School.”
Cluster Head under the Department of Schools at the Ministry of Education Sabri bin Haji Mohd Salleh was the guest of honour. – James Kon
