KUALA LUMPUR: Weightlifter Aniq Kasdan has the opportunity to create history and open a new chapter for Malaysia in the sport when he takes to the stage for the men's under-61 kilogramme category at the Paris Olympics tomorrow.
Malaysia has never won a medal in weightlifting at the Olympics before and Aniq, who is a Commonwealth Games gold medallist and two-time world championships medallist (both clean and jerk), is seen as having the potential to end the nation's long wait at the South Paris Arena.
Malaysian Weightlifting Federation (MWF) president Datuk Ayub Rahmat has urged Aniq, who will be making his Olympic debut in Paris, to relish the pressure.
"Aniq has a huge responsibility on his shoulders as he has the ability to prove that (Malaysian) weightlifting can also do the nation proud on the international stage," said Ayub recently.
"We have already worked very hard and are now competing at the highest level.
"Of course there is pressure on him, however, I always remind him not to take it as a burden.
"I also remind him to think of this as his final chance to compete at the Olympics as we never know if he will get another opportunity to compete at the games.
"If he takes this as his final chance, there is no doubt he will give it everything he has. He can achieve something extraordinary".
Aniq is aiming to clear at least 305 kilogrammes (combined) in the event, which should be enough to place him on the podium.
His current personal best is 296kg, which is also the national record, though he has been making strides in training in the lead up to the games. The focus has been on improving Aniq's snatch which has been his weakness prior to this.
At the Tokyo Games, China's Li Fabin claimed gold on 313kg while Indonesia's Eko Yuli Irawan (302kg) and Kazakhstan's Igor Son (294kg) took silver and bronze.
The trio will again be among the contenders in Paris. American Hampton Morris and Thailand's Theerapong Silachai are also expected to be in the fight for the podium.