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Malaysia staring at big blow

IT is unlikely that national weightlifters will be a dominant force but the Malaysian Weightlifting Federation (MWF) has nevertheless urged hosts Singapore to seriously consider including the sport in the 2015 Sea Games.

Deputy president Ahmad Janius Abdullah said the Sea Games plays an important part in development at Asean level and its absence would leave a big gap in terms of major competition for lifters in the region for the year, including Malaysia.

The last time weightlifting was not included in the Sea Games was in the Brunei edition in 1999.
"It (not being included) is a great blow as the majority of lifters in the region use the tournament to benchmark themselves against their (Asean) peers and gain competitive experience," said Ahmad Janius.

"With it being held the year before the Rio Olympics, I am also sure that a lot of (Asean) lifters will be looking to use the opportunity to use it as part of their buildup for the Brazil Games.
"Singapore are not really strong in weightlifting and being hosts it was not surprising they had left it out.

"However, it is not a sport that is purely dominated by only one nation and quite a few countries have a fair chance of winning gold."

MWF, together with the Malaysia Karate Federation, Malaysia Volleyball Association and Malaysian Chess Federation, have already submitted their appeals via the Olympic Council of Malaysia.

The four sports were not part of the initial list of 2015 Sea Games sports released by the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) late last year.

Ahmad Janius added: "It is not only us who have appealed as representatives from the various national associations, including us, had met during the Myanmar Sea Games (last month) to discuss the matter. They also want it included.

"The Singapore Weightlifting Federation had promised to raise the matter with its Olympic Council.
"We have yet to hear anything but are really hoping for good news."

The national squad could only manage a two-bronze haul from a pared-down event in Myanmar last month which did not include the heavier weight classes that Malaysia have relied on to deliver in the past.

The women lifters, however, did well to break a total of seven national records in Yangon. By Fadhli Ishak

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