GLASGOW, July 31 — National weightlifter Siti Aqilah Farhana Draman made history on her Commonwealth Games debut by becoming the first Malaysian woman to win a silver medal in weightlifting after finishing runner-up in the women's +86 kilogramme event at the Glasgow 2026 Games here on Thursday.
The 20-year-old produced an impressive total lift of 253kg, comprising 113kg in the snatch and 140kg in the clean and jerk, to secure second place in the final at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) Armadillo.
England's Emily Campbell claimed the gold medal with a Games record total of 278kg, while Canada's Etta Mae Love took bronze after recording 250kg.
Siti Aqilah's achievement is the best-ever performance by a Malaysian woman in Commonwealth Games weightlifting, surpassing Raihan Yusoff's bronze in the women's 53kg category at the Delhi 2010 edition and Irene Jane Henry's bronze in the women's 48kg event at Glasgow 2014.
Women's weightlifting was introduced to the Commonwealth Games programme at the Manchester 2002 edition.
On her win, Siti Aqilah said she competed without any lofty expectations and focused solely on each lift as she stunned the field to win a historic silver medal in the women's +86kg event on her Commonwealth Games debut.
Siti Aqilah who is from Kuala Nerus, Terengganu admitted she never expected to finish second, especially as she was not considered among the leading contenders for a podium finish before the competition.
"I really did not expect to win because I do not think any target had been set for me. Even if there was one, it was probably just a bronze medal, but I never imagined I would win silver.
"The gap to the gold medal was not that big. Hopefully, four years from now, I can win the gold, God willing," she told Bernama after the competition at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) Armadillo here today.
Having joined the national squad only two years ago, Siti Aqilah created history as the first Malaysian woman to win a Commonwealth Games weightlifting silver medal after recording a total lift of 253kg, comprising 113kg in the snatch and 140kg in the clean and jerk.
Her total also established a new personal best, which is simultaneously the Malaysian national record.
Reflecting on her approach throughout the competition, Siti Aqilah said she paid little attention to the standings or her rivals, treating the event as though it were an ordinary training session.
"I did not overthink it. I just wanted to do my best because my coach always tells me that if we give our best, we may be rewarded with a medal. I treated it like training. I did not focus on anyone else, I only focused on the barbell," she said.
She added that she was aware Malaysia's previous best achievement in women's Commonwealth Games weightlifting had been a bronze medal won 16 years ago.
"I am very proud and happy to have won the silver medal and created history for my country," she said, adding that she idolises teammate and senior lifter Muhammad Erry Hidayat, who also won the men's 79kg gold medal at this edition.
Siti Aqilah dedicated the medal to her parents back home, her coaches in Terengganu and the National Sports Council (NSC), whom she credited for supporting her preparations.
She also advised aspiring athletes to remain fully committed to training if they hoped to reach the highest level of competition.
"Train hard to reach this stage. Perhaps after this, it will be another athlete's turn to be rewarded. My next target is to win the gold medal at the Commonwealth Games four years from now," she added
