Bangkok no place for medal hunters

24/09/1998

A WEIGHTLIFTING medal at the Asian Games in Bangkok would be too much to
ask for from our current batch of strongmen.
The romantics would argue that Malaysia have won medals at the
Commonwealth level, so why not at the Asian Games?
They fail to realise that in the Asian Games, the presence of
weightlifters from China, who own the majority of world records - some
about 10kg heavier than the Commonwealth records rewritten at the KL Games
- will be an obstacle.
Hidayat Hamidon won a gold and a silver at the Commonwealth Games while
Matin Guntali lifted three bronze medals, but at the Asian Games, they
will find it hard to match the other half of the world.
"We have lined up a new programme for the Asian Games and are confident
of lifting Malaysia's first gold in weightlifting in December," said team
manager Abu Hanapah.
Easier said than done.
The problem with weightlifting in Malaysia is that it is not a schools'
sport. There are no talent scouts to groom strongmen at the grassroots,
unlike Australia, India and Canada.
Johnny Nguen in the 56kg and Akos Sandor in the 105kg and below
category, both of Canada, learned their basics in school.
Sandor, a Hungarian by birth, became a Canadian citizen eight years ago
when his father-cum-coach Steve decided to emigrate to North America.
"He had been groomed to become a world class weightlifter since the age
of 10. Back in Hungary, selectors normally scout for talent in the schools
and the selected lifters undergo a stringent physical training to develop
their backbone and muscles.
"It has been a very fruitful programme," said Steve.
Sandor rose from the junior ranks and at the KL Games, lifted three
golds for Canada.
Nguen was also spotted at a schools trial when he was 12 and helped his
teammate Mehmet Yagaci win three golds by playing the rabbit at the KL
Games.
The team of Yagaci and Nguen denied Malaysia's Abdul Rahman his moment
of glory.
For the Malaysian weightlifters to progress to world standard lifts, the
National Sports Council must go to the school(s) first.
(END)