Malaysia's Alnwick is aiming for gold at the 2025 Asian Weightlifting Championships, but the Chinese and North Korean players are too strong

Being selected for the Road to Gold (RTG) program again and receiving an Athlete Education Fund scholarship from the Olympic Council of Malaysia is undoubtedly a double incentive for Malaysian weightlifter Alnwick, who will participate in the 2025 Asian Weightlifting Championships. To repay his country, Alnick will be aiming for gold in the men's 61kg category at the Asian Weightlifting Championships in Jiangshan, China, this weekend.

In return for being included in the country's Road to Gold Medal programme and offering a scholarship, Malaysia's Alnick is looking to the Asian Weightlifting Championships this weekend to compete for the gold medal.

Successfully renewed the contract of the Road to Gold program. The 22-year-old retained his place on the Road to Gold last month and was recently awarded a RM10,000 per year Athlete Education Fund scholarship from the Olympic Council of Malaysia to help him complete his studies. With his financial problems out of the way and Alnik able to focus more on the field, he said he would give his all at the Asian Championships to bring glory to Malaysia.

Alnwick must meet 3 conditions. In addition to winning glory for his country, Alnick must complete one of three conditions in order to stay on the road to gold next year – to stay in the top 8 in the world, finish in the top 8 at the World Championships, and win a medal at the 2026 Commonwealth Games or Asian Games.

Next year will be a fresh start for Alnwick as he will switch from the current 61kg to the 60kg class. He will participate in the Asian Championships for the last time in his career in the 61kg category. Alnwick will switch classes because the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) has adopted the recommendations of its Innovation Committee and will officially adjust the weight classification of each class from next month. After that, Alnwick will compete in the 60kg category at the Republican Federal Championships (24-30 August), the World Championships (2-11 October) and the SEA Games in Thailand (7-19 December).

The magnitude of conversion will take on a new challenge. Speaking about the weight shift, Alnick said: "It's only a 1kg difference, but it's a new challenge for me. I'm going to move on to the 60kg category after the Asian Championships, and then it's going to be even more unpredictable because some of the players who were in the lighter class might move up to that class as well. "Maybe it won't be until the World Championships that I'll have a clearer idea who will be my main opponent."

Alnwick is competitive on the international stage, winning silver in the 61kg category at last year's World Championships and a bronze medal at the 2023 International Weightlifting Federation Grand Prix. At last year's Paris Olympics, Alnick missed out on a medal by just one kilogram.

Alnick: The Chinese are the most threatening. In the 55kg category, Aníko also won gold medals at the 2021 and 2022 Republican Federal Championships and Games, respectively. While China's two-time Olympic champion Li Fabin will not be competing at this year's Asian Championships, Alnwick will face a strong challenge from two host countrymen, Wang Hao and Wang Min, as well as North Korea's defending champion Park Myung-jin.

Speaking about his prospects at the Asian Championships, Alnick said: "I hope to do well in this tournament and it will be the best proof of my role as part of the Road to Gold program. In the lightweight division, Chinese weightlifters are always the most threatening opponents. ”