Hidayat, Matin the only two lifters for Asiad

06/11/1998

HIDAYAT Hamidon and Matin Guntali will be the only Malaysian lifters at
the Bangkok Asian Games next month because the Malaysian Weightlifting
Federation (MWF) had decided not to appeal.
The MWF submitted three names to the Olympic Council of Malaysia for the
Asian Games but only two lifters, who won a total of one gold one silver
and three bronzes at the Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games, received the
green light.
Abdul Rahman was dropped.
"We did not make an appeal because we thought that the two lifters and
coach Slava Lelikov will suffice for the Asian Games challenge," said MWF
secretary Lt Com Kamaruzaman Kadir.
Coach Willaim Yeo, who feels that more lifters should have been exposed,
is nevertheless happy that OCM selectors selected two.
Hidayat in the 69kg and Matin in 54kg are not medal prospects at the
Asian Games because Chinese and Japanese lifters who hold the majority of
the world records will be the ones to beat in Bangkok.
"It would be very tough to win medals in Bangkok but a top six finish is
within the reach of the duo," said Yeo.
"They will attempt to better their world ranking and maybe crack a few
national records."
Meanwhile, the proposal by the International Weightlifting Federation
(IWF) to promote malaysia as a centre of excellence in South-East Asia
will be further discussed in Bangkok.
"IWF secretary Dr Tamas Ajan will be one of the technical officials at
the Asian Games and we will pursue the matter further," said Kamaruzaman.
The IWF offer was made after Hidayat and Matin impressed during the
Commonwealth Games.
The IWF will pay for the coaches at the centre and lifters will also be
paid an allowance.
Malaysia on their part will have to get weightlifters from around the
region and provide a training venue for the twice-a-year training
sessions.
Weightlifters from Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Sri Lanka and
neighbouring countries would benefit from the month-long training.
(END)