Malaysian weightlifters Syahmi Nor Ghazali and Erry Hidayat faced stiff competition at the Asian Games held at the Nagoya City Trade and Industry Centre yesterday, with both athletes striving to make their mark in their respective categories.

Debuting at the Asian Games, 22-year-old Syahmi competed in the men’s under-95kg division and finished sixth overall. He successfully matched his national record, lifting 153 kilograms in the snatch and 200 kilograms in the clean and jerk, for a total of 353 kilograms. This performance equaled the record he had previously set at last year’s Southeast Asian Games in Thailand. Syahmi acknowledged feeling nervous ahead of his debut but credited the encouragement from his family and supporters for helping him achieve his goal. He expressed determination to continue improving his personal best in future competitions.

Meanwhile, Erry Hidayat competed in the below-85kg weight category, moving up from his usual under-79kg class, where he had won gold at the Commonwealth Games in July. Erry placed ninth overall, lifting a total of 312 kilograms with 140 kilograms in the snatch and 172 kilograms in the clean and jerk. He noted that he was likely the lightest competitor in his division, as many others weighed closer to the upper limit of the category. Erry is the son of Hidayat Hamidin, who secured gold at the 1998 Commonwealth Games.

Both athletes faced the challenge of competing against more experienced lifters from across Asia, underscoring the high level of competition at the Games. While neither secured a medal, their performances highlighted promising potential as they gain experience on the continental stage.