GOLD COAST: The Gold Coast Commonwealth Games ended on Sunday with Malaysia surpassing their target.
To recap, here are some of the athletes’ best performances, heartbreaking moments, record breaking feats, funniest and inspiring quotes and bloopers.
GRAND FINALE
Lee Chong Wei defied his advanced age to embarrass World No1K. Srikanth for the men’s singles title in his games swansong. The World No7is now the most successful Malaysian athlete in the games with five gold and one silver.
HEARTBREAKING MOMENT
Eight-time world champion Nicol David, the Serena Williams of women’s squash, failed to win a medal in the women’s singles in what could be her final outing at the games.
Nicol, who will turn 35 in August, won the event in 2010 (New Delhi) and 2014 (Glasgow) editions.
RECORD BREAKERS
1. Weightlifter Azroy Hazal Wafie Izhar Ahmad not only won Malaysia’s first gold medal in the Gold Coast, but also broke two Commonwealth Games records in the men’s 56kg. He lifted 117kg in the snatch to smash the eight-year-old record of 116kg set by Amirul Hamizan Ibrahim in 2010 (New Delhi). The overall 261kg score by Azroy also broke the 260kg record by Amirul in 2002 (Manchester).
2. Para powerlifter Bonnie Bunyau Gustin smashed his world junior record of 157kg by lifting 166kg, but unfortunately he could only finish fourth in the men’s lightweight category.
3. Para swimmer Carmen Lim erased her Asean record of 36.48s in the women’s S8 50m freestyle by clocking 35.95s but finished fifth in the race.
4. Swimmer Tern Jian Han made a huge splash when he smashed Lim Keng Liat’s 16-year national record of 25.67s in the 50m backstroke by clocking 25.60 in the semi-finals. However, he could not repeat the feat in the final where he finished eighth.
5. Weightlifter Siti Aisyah Md Rosli broke her national records of 90kg (snatch) and 115kg (clean & jerk) with 91kg (snatch) and 123kg (clean & jerk) in the women’s 90kg event en route to finishing fourth.
6. Rhythmic gymnasts Amy Kwan (1 gold 1 silver 2 bronze) and Koi Sie Yan (0-3-1) were Malaysia’s most decorated athletes with four medals each in the Gold Coast.
SIGNIFICANT BREAKTHROUGHS
1. Welson Sim became the first Malaysian swimmer since Lim Keng Liat in 2002 to reach a Commonwealth Games final. He did so in the 400m freestyle before Tern Jian Han equalled his feat in the 50m backstroke. Welson also swam in the 1,500 final without having to race in the heats.
2. Cyclist Shah Firdaus Sahrom hit the headlines by outpacing world champion Matt Glaetzer of Australia in the men’s sprint first round. However, the Malaysian could only finish fourth in the event.
3. Sprinter Zaidatul Husniah Zulkifli scorched the tracks by reaching the women’s 100m semi-finals while the men’s 4x100m quartet, anchored by Khairul Hafiz Jantan, made the final of the event. However, both did not make progress in the next round.
4. Rachel Arnold-S. Sivasangari pulled off a shocker by stunning top seeds and world champions Joelle King-Amanda Landers Murphy of New Zealand in a women’s doubles group match before bowing out in the quarter-finals.
UNEXPECTED MEDALS
1. Nafiizwan Adnan created history by winning Malaysia’s first ever medal in men’s squash at the games. The Terengganu-born, who shocked defending champion Nick Matthews in the quarter-finals, won a bronze in the men’s singles.
2. Paddlers Ho Ying and Karen Lyne served up a surprise by becoming the first Malaysians to finish on the podium in an individual table tennis event. The pair upset India’s M. Sutirtha-S. Pooja for the bronze.
3. Shuttlers Chow Mei Kuan and Vivian Hoo played in only one tournament together prior to the games but still managed to win the women’s doubles gold medal. Mei Kuan was a replacement for Vivian’s regular partner Woon Khe Wei.
4
Muhd Afiq Mohamad Ali Hanafiah won the bronze in 11.28s in men’s 100m T12 (visual impairment) to become the first Malaysian para athlete to deliver a medal in athletics in 16 years.
BIGGEST LET-DOWNS
1. Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong (men’s doubles) and Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai (mixed doubles) were the top seeds in their respective events but both pairs failed to justify their seeding. V Shem-Wee Kiong won bronze while Soon Huat-Shevon did not even make the semi-finals.
2. Azizulhasni Awang arrived in the Gold Coast as a former world keirin champion but the Melbourne-based rider could not do his best due to viral infection.
3. World champion Cheong Jun Hoong and former winner Pandelela Rinong entered the women’s 10m platform with great expectations, but a series of poor dives saw them finish outside the medals.
4. Nauraj Singh Randhawa was touted as a potential medallist in the men’s high jump. Despite a personal best of 2.30m, he could only finish ninth after clearing 2.18m.
5. Discus specialist Irfan Shamsuddin, who won the Asian title last year, was expected to make an impact but all of his three throws were disqualified, thus failing to make the final.
6. Triple jumper Muhammad Hakimi Ismail paid dearly for his cautious approach as the Malaysian flag-bearer could only record his best jump of 15.97 to finish ninth.
BLOOPER
It must be Ahmad Amsyar Azman’s belly flop in the men’s 3m springboard diving event. It was his second belly flop after the 2016 Rio Olympics.
FUNNIEST QUOTE
“It is a mental issue. I can’t explain it as it is something inside my brain and if I explain, you wouldn’t understand.” Diver Ooi Tze Liang after failing to defend his men’s 3m springboard gold medal.
MEMORABLE QUOTES
“A veteran won today. Definitely my sweetest and most memorable Commonwealth Games. It is always great to win on your final outing.” Shuttler Lee Chong Wei after winning the men’s singles gold medal.
“If we decide to cry today, we do it on the podium,” Lawn bowler Siti Zalina Ahmad told teammate Emma Firyana Saroji after winning the women’s pairs final.