Weightlifting event returns to KL Games<\/p>\n
KUALA LUMPUR (AP): At least five nations have hopes of
\nweightlifting medals as the sport returns to the Southeast Asian
\nGames this week after an absence of four years.<\/p>\n
It was missing from the last, pared-down games in tiny Brunei
\nin 1999, where several previously held events were skipped.<\/p>\n
As a result, coaches of the leading weightlifting teams are
\nuncertain about how powerful their rivals now are, the Bernama
\nnews agency reported Monday. The sport was last contested in the
\nSEA Games in Indonesia in 1997.<\/p>\n
There are eight gold medals at stake for men and five for
\nwomen in competition starting Tuesday in the southern city of
\nJohor Bahru.<\/p>\n
Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and Myanmar appear to
\nhave the highest hopes of gold medals.<\/p>\n
Zainuddin Rasidi, Malaysia's weightlifting team manager, said
\nhis team's conservative target was to win one gold medal,
\nalthough he was hopeful that others would rise to the occasion
\nand spring some surprises.<\/p>\n
All three of their medal winners in the 1997 SEA Games have
\nentered again. Mohd Hidayat Hamidon, who won gold, competes in
\nthe 69-kilogram category. Silver medalists Edmund Yeo and Matin
\nGuntali compete at 94 and 56 kilograms.<\/p>\n
Malaysia also has Amirul Hamizan, who broke two records at the
\n1998 Commonwealth Games in the snatch and clean and jerk at 56
\nkilograms.<\/p>\n
Indonesia, the overall weightlifting champion in the 1997
\nGames, is uncertain about its chances this time.<\/p>\n
Team manager Gandrung said that although most of the 1997
\nweightlifters back, Indonesia was unable to assess the other
\nteams due to the changes in the weight categories.<\/p>\n
He said Indonesia was banking on the men's squad. He expected
\nthe main challenge to come from Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar and
\nVietnam.<\/p>\n
Vietnam has set a target of at least one gold, while Myanmar
\nhopes to win at least three.<\/p>\n
Lt. Col. Thein Aung, deputy chief of mission of the Myanmar
\nteam, said he was confident about the country's women
\nweightlifters and was targeting medals in all four divisions they
\nare competing in. They won three golds and a silver in 1997.<\/p>",
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