Door Still Open For Weightlifters To Earn SEA Games Ticket

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 1 (Bernama) -- The door is still open for national weightlifters to earn a ticket to the 2011 SEA Games in Indonesia, provided they can achieve good results at the National Weightlifting Circuit, to be held next month.

Malaysian Weightlifting Federation President Zafarul Akbar Kassim said even if weightlifters who achieved good results are not from the elite or back up squad, the federation would consider them for selection.

He said a number of weightlifters regarded as "underdogs" had caused upsets in the first circuit held in Bangi, Selangor.

"We see it as a positive development and hope by organising the second circuit, more weightlifters will qualify for the SEA Games," he told Bernama.

Zafarul said the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) had also given its consent to the federation to hold the second circuit before the Sept 25 dateline for sending names of athletes.

"Our selection will be purely based on merit," he said.

At the 2009 SEA Games in Laos, weightlifting contributed three silver and two bronze medals.

Meanwhile, Zafarul said the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) had commended the federation for successfully hosting the 37th Men's and 17th Women's World Junior Weightlifting Championships at the Penang International Sports Arena (PISA) from June 30 to July 7.

"IWF in its message congratulated the organiser for organising the best championships in the history of the event," he said.

Zafarul said although Malaysian weightlifters did not win any medals in the championships, there were many who had performed exceptionally well by surpassing their personal best.

"It was a good experience and exposure for the young weightlifters in the country and a tremendous opportunity to compete against world class weightlifters," he said.

-- BERNAMA

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