AMIR DANIEL TARGETS COMMONWEALTH GAMES GOLD AFTER HISTORIC BRONZE

KUALA LUMPUR, March 22 (Bernama) -- After making history as the country’s first judoka to win a medal at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, Amir Daniel Abdul Majeed is now setting a bolder target for the next edition in Glasgow, Scotland.

Amir Daniel, who delivered a bronze medal in the men’s 73-kilogramme (kg) category in Birmingham, is determined to script a new chapter in the nation’s sporting history by upgrading that medal to gold at the quadrennial Games scheduled from July 23 to Aug 2 this year.

The Penang-born athlete, who moved up to the men’s 81kg category two years ago, described his mission to Glasgow as a continuation of his winning momentum after ending the country’s 44-year wait for a judo gold medal at the 2025 Thailand SEA Games.

Despite being hampered by meniscus and medial collateral ligament (MCL) injuries to his left leg upon returning from Thailand, the 21-year-old’s spirit remains undiminished, stressing that his recovery process is on the right track.

“Currently, I would say I am in a much better shape compared to last month. I am still recovering, but recently I have started sparring.

“I am not worried about the injury because it is part and parcel of an athlete’s life, it’s just about how you adapt to it,” he told Bernama.

However, Amir Daniel is aware that the path to the top of the podium in Glasgow will not be easy, especially with the presence of Canadian ace Francois Gauthier-Drapeau, who is currently ranked fifth in the world in the men’s 81kg category.

On his second appearance at the Commonwealth Games, the Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) student said he is excited to once again experience a high-level competitive atmosphere similar to what he encountered in Birmingham.

“I hope to gain a similar experience to Birmingham in Glasgow. During Birmingham, the athletes’ village was great, with all types of equipment and facilities available, and the venue and food were also top-notch,” he said.

Meanwhile, he acknowledged the need for two to three international tournaments to help him strengthen his preparations ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

As such, he is planning to compete in a tournament in Vietnam this May, followed by another in Europe in July, before heading to Glasgow.

Amir Daniel said he will also train with several judokas from Japan in Penang to further enhance his physical condition and strength.

-- BERNAMA