IT’S just a bronze, but it’s still one that up-and-coming national weightlifter Erry Hidayat will cherish as it also happens to be his first Sea Games medal.
Erry, who just turned 20 on Nov 24, did well to clinch bronze in the men’s Under-73kg class at the Ninoy Aquino Indoor Stadium in Manila after managing a combined lift of 300kg 132kg in snatch and 168kg in clean and jerk).
Indonesia’s Rahmat Abdullah took gold on 322kg (145kg-177kg) while Vietnam’s Pham Tuan Anh was second on 304kg (136kg-168kg).
While some may scoff at a Sea Games bronze, the weightlifting competition here is known to be even tougher than at the Commonwealth Games.
‘There was a little bit of pressure at the end, because I knew I had to make it (168kg) on that last lift to make sure I stayed in third place,’ said Erry, whose father is former national weightlifter Hidayat Hamidon.
‘I didn’t win anything at the 2017 KL Games, so to get a bronze here is really good for me.
‘I didn’t expect to be among the medallists here because the field is quite tough. This win is a move in the right direction for me and I will keep working hard to improve myself.
‘My next major tournament is likely to be the world meet next year.’
Meanwhile, Jabriella Samuel settled for fourth in the women’s Under-71kg class final after lifting a combined 181kg (81kg in snatch and 100kg in clean and jerk).