Tokyo Olympics Weightlifter Nurul Akmal Shares 'Incredible Experience'
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3 August 2021 09:22 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian weightlifter Nurul Akmal, who is in the country’s Tokyo Olympics women’s weightlifting national team, currently ranks fifth in the +87 kilograms on Monday after logging a 115 kilogram snatch and 141 kilograms clean and jerk with a total of 256 kilograms.
The weightlifter with a more familiar nickname ‘Amel’ said she is grateful for her current fifth overall ranking despite openly admitting that her performance was dissatisfying.
“I am a little unhappy but because this is my inaugural performance in the Olympics which is conducted amidst the pandemic, Alhamdulillah (Praise to God) I am able to rank fifth overall,” Nurul Akmal wrote in a statement on August 2.
The Banda Aceh-born lifter started the competition by lifting a clean snatch of 107 kilograms and gradually added that weight to 111 kilograms and ended her session at fifth overall with 115 kilograms. With a relatively safe position, her team started to implement strategic ways to increase her position by starting with 141 kilograms.
Amel attempted her 151 kilogram lift but failed to do so which was followed by adding it to 154 kilograms for her third try but unfortunately did not manage the lift.
With this commendable result, Nurul Akmal - who ranks fifth in the 2020 Asian Championship - acknowledged that performing in the Tokyo Olympics is an incredible and indescribable experience.
“It's difficult to explain. I was very nervous. But Alhamdulillah, i did a great snatch but was a little rushed with my clean and jerk at the second and third attempt. I got an incredible experience here as I faced Asian competitors prior to this, this one had European competitors and from the entire globe,” said the Indonesian female weightlifter.
The competition was won by Chinese lifter Li Wenwen who broke the Tokyo Olympics record with a total of 320 kilograms, broken down to snatch of 140 kilograms and clean and jerk 180 kilograms.
Read: Indonesia's Greysia / Apriyani Clinches Gold at Tokyo Olympics
IRSYAN HASYIM
