National weightlifter Erry Hidayat delivers Malaysia’s third gold medal

 Erry Hidayat set a new Games record with a 331kg total lift in the men’s 79kg category at the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

The victory gave Erry Hidayat his first Commonwealth Games gold medal, following his silver medal finish at Birmingham 2022. (MSN pic)

GLASGOW:

National weightlifter Erry Hidayat delivered a gold medal for Malaysia after winning the men’s 79 kilogrammes (kg) category at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games here today.

The victory earned Erry his first Commonwealth Games gold medal, improving on the silver he won in the men’s 73kg category at Birmingham 2022.

The 26-year-old secured the title with a total lift of 331kg, comprising 147kg in the snatch and 184kg in the clean and jerk. His clean and jerk and overall total also set new Games records.

India’s Valluri Ajaya Babu took the silver medal with a total lift of 330kg (149kg in snatch; 181kg in clean and jerk), while England’s Chris Murray claimed bronze with a total lift of 325kg (148kg in snatch; 177kg in clean and jerk).

The triumph was made even more meaningful as Erry followed in the footsteps of his father, Hidayat Hamidon, who won gold at the Kuala Lumpur 1998 Commonwealth Games.

Erry delivered Malaysia’s third gold medal after teammates Aniq Kasdan and Aznil Bidin won the 60kg and 65kg categories, respectively, on Sunday (July 26). - FMT