Malaysia’s national weightlifting team manager, Amirul Hamizan Ibrahim, hailed Muhammad Aznil Bidin’s gold medal triumph in the 65kg category at the 2025 Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships in Ahmedabad, India, calling it proof of the athlete’s maturity and exceptional mental resilience.
Amirul said the victory was even sweeter as it came in a newly introduced weight class that featured fierce competition, particularly from India’s home favorite, Raja Muthupandi, who was forced to settle for silver.
“This win is very meaningful because the 65kg category is new, and no one knew who would dominate. Aznil proved he could adapt and overcome tough challenges,” Amirul told Sukan Sinar.
Held at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex, the championship saw Aznil deny Raja’s dominance while Morea Baru of Papua New Guinea claimed bronze. The tournament, running from August 24 to 30, also serves as a qualification event for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Amirul highlighted that Aznil’s gold aligned with the team’s goals of consistency, especially in the clean & jerk, which was the decisive factor in Aznil’s total lift of 297kg (125kg snatch, 172kg clean & jerk).
“Aznil managed the pressure on the big stage very well. Even a one-kilogram difference can decide the medals, and his international experience clearly strengthened his mental game,” said the former national weightlifting star.
He added that the success was the result of meticulous preparation during a four-week training camp in Kuala Rompin, Pahang, before the team’s departure to Ahmedabad. “Alhamdulillah, the training paid off. After this, the athletes will return to Bukit Jalil for intensive training programs,” he said.
At the same time, Amirul emphasized that the squad’s strength does not rely on a single athlete, as all 14 athletes brought to the championship have the potential to shine on the international stage.
“Our focus is to ensure every athlete delivers their best performance in key tournaments. Everyone is determined to give their best for Malaysia,” he concluded.
