GLASGOW, July 26 — In 1998, former national weightlifter Hidayat Hamidon stood proudly on the podium at the Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games with a gold medal around his neck.

Now, 28 years later, his son Muhammad Erry has arrived in Glasgow with the same mission — to become a Commonwealth Games champion.

For Muhammad Erry, the men’s 79kg category competition at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) tomorrow (July 27) is not merely an opportunity to improve on the silver medal he won at the 2022 edition in Birmingham.

It is also a chance to continue a family legacy that began on home soil nearly three decades ago.

As such, the 26-year-old athlete is determined not to return from this edition with the same colour of medal.

“My mission in coming to Glasgow is to chase the gold medal for Malaysia because I won silver at the previous Commonwealth Games.

“I will give my best because I have yet to experience winning a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games. And if I can break the Games record, that would be a bonus,” he told Bernama here.

A gold medal would place Muhammad Erry and Hidayat among a select group of father-and-son pairs who have both won Commonwealth Games weightlifting titles.

However, before that piece of history can be written, he must first overcome a stern challenge from defending champion Achinta Sheuli of India, who is expected to be his closest rival.

“So far, the closest challenger is from India. I also competed against him in the previous edition. Compared with athletes from other countries, the difference in my lifts with the Indian athlete is only around 1 or 2 kg.

“I monitor every competition he takes part in, including through his updates on social media. The competition is certainly intense, but I believe I am capable of challenging him,” he said.

Muhammad Erry said all training sessions and programmes planned by his coach have been progressing smoothly, with his best preparations carried out over two months — one month each in Rompin, Pahang, and Turkiye.

He also acknowledged that he is in good condition and free from any injuries.

The Glasgow 2026 weightlifting competition is scheduled to take place over five days starting today.

Hidayat ended a 48-year wait for the country’s weightlifting camp to win gold after emerging champion in the men’s 69 kg clean and jerk event at the 1998 edition. — Bernama