GEORGE TOWN: The 37th Men and 17th Women World Junior Weightlifting Championships at the Penang International Sports Arena (PISA) from June 30 to July 7, is expected to be a preview of Olympic weightlifters flexing their muscle ahead of the 2012 London Olympic Games.
The championships has attracted participation from more than 76 countries.
Competition Manager Paul Coffa said this was the second biggest event in the sport of weightlifting after the world senior championships.
“This is an important championships and it will serve as the 2012 Olympic qualification for weightlifters to earn their tickets to London,” he told reporters before the organising committee meeting here yesterday.
Also present during the meeting were state State Youth, Sports, Women, Family and Community Development Committee chairman Lydia Ong Kok Fooi and Executive Board Member of the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) Datuk Ong Poh Eng.
He said among the top weightlifting nation that will be participating in the championships were China, Russia, Turkey, Kazakhstan and Armenia.
“I am confident that there will be a few new world records created here. So far 650 athletes and officials had confirmed their participation and we expect the number to reach about 700 within the next few days,” he said. Poh Eng who is also the chairman of the organising committee said the championships was organised by the Penang Amateur Weightlifting Association in collaboration with the Malaysia Weightlifting Federation, Penang Sports Council and Penang Island Municipal Council.
He said during the championships, daily shuttle service will be provided for participants and officials for sightseeing trips to the major tourist attraction and heritage sites here. — Bernama