Yee Chun Leong
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
LIYANA SIDEK set a new national record in the women's U-55kg category at the World Weightlifting Championships in Riyadh on Tuesday.
She lifted a combined total of 126kg (snatch and clean & jerk) to better her record by 1kg set at the Asian Weightlifting Championships back in October.
She was delighted with her performance especially being able to take it up a notch at the Prince Faisal bin Fahd Olympic Complex.
"I’ve been mentally stuck for a while ever since the Asian Championships, having dropped down to a lower weight class after that and then bouncing back up again to U-55," said Liyana in an interview with BruSports News.
"I’m still in the process of filling out this weight class, as I weighed in quite light at 52.7kg.
"My performance at this World Championships has broken a mental barrier for me and I’m looking forward to hitting a new total," she added.
Liyana had produced a lift for 55kg for snatch on her second attempt but didn't manage to hit her personal best of 58kg on her third try.
For the clean & jerk event, she went for the national record on her second lift at 71kg but was waved off.
She tried it again on her final try and was triumphant.
"I was very confident. My second attempt was called for a press out, but 71kg has never moved as easy as it did on that attempt," said Liyana.
"I was determined to make that weight as I knew that would break my competition total," she added.
When asked on what's next, Liyana replied: "I have my eyes set on standing on the Commonwealth stage and I'm eventually working my way there."
Her husband Nashrul Hj Abu Bakar is the other athlete flying the flag for Brunei at the World Championships and see action in the men's U-61kg category.
