Hidayat off to Medan for well-earned rest

29/09/1998

AFTER lifting a gold and a silver in the 69kg category at the Commonwealth
Games, Hidayat Hamidon said he was homesick and is heading for Medan for a
week's break.
Medan is where his mother Nurpah Ibus, 47, lives and Hidayat is going
there to savour his moment of glory with her.
When asked why his mother was not at the Mines Exhibition Centre to
witness her son rewrite the Games clean and jerk record, father-cum-coach
Hamidon Arbi said she would have been a distraction.
"No way! We purposely did not allow his mother to watch him in action
because it would have distracted Hidayat. His mother's presence would have
added to the pressure," said Hamidon.
Hidayat, who grew up in Indonesia, won Malaysia's first weightlifting
gold in 48 years at the Games.
But the 22-year-old Hidayat said he was sad that his mother couldn't
come to KL to see him in action. She only knew of his triumph two hours
later when Hamidon, 54, called her.
"I spoke to her on the phone. She was so happy that she cried. Two days
before the competition, I called my mother and I told her to pray for me
and it helped," said Hidayat.
Hidayat is not the only one who went on a well-earned break, seven other
weightlifters are also on holiday and will resume training for the Asian
Games next week.
And they are expected resume training under a new coach.
The National Sports Council (NSC) have decided not to renew the contract
of Russian Slava Lelikov, whose stint expired after the Games.
"It is important we get a good coach from abroad to guide our lifters.
We may go for another Russian coach as they are among the best in the
world," said NSC weightlifting team manager Abu Hanapah.
Abu said the Jaya '98 programme launched four years ago produced
results.
"We have proven that with the right programme, we are capable of
delivering. We have drawn up a new programme for the Asian Games. Our
lifters should continue their good work and not ease off."
(END)