KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Weightlifting Federation (MWF) president Datuk Ayub Rahmat believes Aniq Kasdan can win a medal at the Paris Olympics if he can find an extra gear in the snatch discipline.
Ayub said Aniq's snatch has always been weaker than his clean and jerk and this is something that the latter has been working hard on improving in the lead up to the Paris games.
The 22-year-old will take to the stage for the men's under-61kg class at the South Paris Arena on Wednesday.
"Aniq's snatch is his weakness, his scores are quite low. This is why we have been focusing on improving his snatch technique during his training camps," said Ayub recently.
"He is usually capable of lifting 125 to 126 kilogrammes for the snatch. If he can achieve 130kg, we can at least make up the difference (needed to win medal) in the clean and jerk, which is his strength.
"He has been able to achieve 170kg to 171kg in the clean and jerk and we believe he has the potential to clear 175kg.
"If he can do 130kg in the snatch and 175kg in the clean and jerk, I believe he has a chance of winning a medal."
During the Tokyo Games, Igor Son of Kazakhstan was able to secure the bronze medal on a combined 294kg. The standard of competition, however, is expected to be markedly higher in Paris.
A combined 305kg for both disciplines is the magic number which is believed to be sufficient for Aniq to finish on the podium. Aniq, who won gold at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, has been aiming for this mark over the past year.
Ayub added that Aniq can no longer afford to start too low in the snatch.
"He has to start from at least 126kg or 127kg in his first attempt. If he can clear that, he has a good chance of clearing 130kg in his second attempt," said Ayub.
Gold and silver at Tokyo 2020 went to China's Li Fabin (313kg) and Indonesia's Eko Yuli Irawan (302kg) and they will again be among the contenders in Paris.
American Hampton Morris and Thailand's Theerapong Silachai are also expected to be contenders.