FIRST GOLD: Filicia shows her gold medal after winning the women’s 63kg clean and jerk yesterday.
PEKAN: Filicia Muyat came close to setting a new record in the women’s 63kg clean and jerk when bagging Sarawak’s first weightlifting gold medal at Sukma XV held at Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Convention Hall, Pekan yesterday.
The determined Filicia lifted a total of 92kg but was unable to create a new record after two failed attempts in lifting 102kg.
Khairani Mohd Malek of Johor was second after lifting 90kg while Noor Hasliza Sabani of Pahang settled for the silver as she could only manage 83kg.
Earlier, Khairani grabbed the gold in the snatch event with a lift of 73kg in just one attempt while Filicia did achieve similar feat but only in her third attempt and thus was awarded the silver.
Hasliza took the bronze with her lift of 67kg.
“I am happy with the gold and silver medals as I have not only achieved my target of winning gold here but also I did my best for Sarawak by contributing a gold,” said the 21-year-old weightlifter who finished fourth in Terengganu Sukma in 2008.
Coach Edmund Yeo was also pleased with Filicia’s performance yesterday, saying that she met the team’s expectations of landing a gold.
“We were quite wary of the challenge from Khairani and Filicia was under pressure to win the clean and jerk event as her personal best was 105kg,” he said on Filicia who was well prepared in terms of mental toughness and her welfare was well taken care of.
He is hoping that the state weightlifters can win more medals in the next few events competed yesterday and today.