KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 26 — The Malaysian powerlifting team was given a big lift in the International Paralympic Committee World Powerlifting Championships when a 19-year-old won a gold medal in the men’s Junior category.

Wan Nur Azri Wan Azman, 19, managed to lift 137kg in the men’s 97kg category in his third attempt to clinch the gold medal, beating Jack Colbert from Ireland (110kg) and Alqahtani Saleh from Saudi Arabia (66kg).

The victory by the lad from Kota Baru, Kelantan, was a pleasant surprise to the Malaysian team because he has never managed to lift such a weight during practice or competition before.

“My best lift in the past was 135kg at the Para Asean Games in Singapore last December,” said Wan Nur after the prize presentation. “I sincerely did not expect to win the gold medal here because I had just wanted to do my best. During the competition, I did not focus on who my opponents were.”

Malaysia added a bronze medal when national elite paralympic athlete Jong Yee Khie finished third in the men’s 97kg category with a lift of 212kg. — Bernama