By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, July 18: Abrienda Chan Pei Xin, an 18-year-old powerlifting sensation from Kuching, has qualified for the Powerlifting World Championships, making her the first Sarawakian to compete in this prestigious event.
According to a statement, the championships will take place from Aug 28 to Sept 8 in Valletta, Malta.
Born in 2006, Chan has quickly risen through the ranks to secure a spot in the prestigious International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) World Classic & Equipped Sub-Junior & Junior Powerlifting Championships.
She was selected from a pool of athletes across Malaysia, recognised as the best in her age and body weight category.
Her selection is a testament to her exceptional talent and dedication, as the world championships require athletes to meet stringent qualification standards.
“This is her first year and first time competing in World. We can foresee big things for little Abrienda. And as for winning medals, we personally believe she can podium (win a medal) in at least one of the three disciplines of powerlifting.
“On top of that she is also the first Sarawakian athlete that has the honour of representing Malaysia in any powerlifting world championships,” the statement read.
Chan’s journey in powerlifting began in 2023, and she has since been an integral part of both the national and Sarawak state teams.
She holds multiple records, including Malaysia National Records and Sarawak State Records. Her impressive achievements include being a National and State Champion since 2023.
In her first international competition at the Asian Classic Powerlifting Championship from Dec 10 to Dec 18, 2023, Chan clinched one Gold and three Silver medals while breaking all her National and State Records.
Her stellar performance earned her the title of Malaysia’s No.1 Ranked GL Points Women’s Sub-Junior for the year 2023. — DayakDaily
