Amjad grabs unlikely bronze at Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships

15-year-old impresses on international debut when he lifted total weight of 236kg

KARACHI: Pakistan’s Farhan Amjad bagged a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships in Penang, Malaysia yesterday.

The 15-year-old was impressive on his international debut when he lifted a total weight of 236kg with 103kg in snatch and 133kg in clean and jerk at the 77kg event. This was the second medal for Pakistan Weightlifting Federation (PWF) athletes as Talha Talib had won a gold medal in the 62kg event on Saturday.

Farhan was behind Mauritius’ Jack Anthony Madanamoothoo, who took top place by lifting a total 249kg, and Malaysian Muhamad Rushdan Mat Sulaiman (242kg).

“We weren’t expecting a lot from Farhan as this was just his first appearance,” PWF vice-president Rashed Malik told The Express Tribune. “He is very young and in fact it is the first time he has travelled anywhere. He just finished his matriculation and we are very proud of him. He will definitely be one of the top weightlifters in the future.”



Malik said that he is expecting more medals from weightlifters Abdur Rehman in the juniors 85kg event and Kashif Saeed, while Nooh Dastagir Butt will be competing in the 105kg on October 29.

He added that Abdur Rehman will need to lift around 270kg to ensure gold medal, while Butt will need to lift 390kg to win.

Malik said the athletes are well prepared and went to Penang almost a week prior to the championships.

“We made sure that our athletes a get good amount of training in Penang so that they can get acclimatised there,” said Malik. “In the past, our athletes would only arrive for the championships a day before and that would affect their performances negatively.”

Published in The Express Tribune, October 25^th, 2016.

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