KUALA LUMPUR: Just two weeks after the death of his father, Amir Daniel Abdul Majeed rose above personal grief to deliver Malaysia’s first-ever SEA Games judo gold medal on Saturday.
The Penang-born exponent claimed the men’s under-81kg gold at the Thailand SEA Games after downing John Viron Ferrer of the Philippines in the final at the Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi.
The victory in Bangkok carried special meaning, coming shortly after the passing of his father, Abdul Majeed, who died of a heart attack while Amir was attending a training camp in Mongolia.
The 21-year-old rushed home from Mongolia to attend the funeral before returning to competition.
“It was overwhelming to win the gold medal. I dedicate this win to him,” said Amir when contacted in Bangkok.
“I still remember rushing back from Mongolia and seeing his lifeless body.
“I never talked much to him, but I competed harder for him this time and I hope I made him happy by winning this gold.”
Amir had earlier booked his place in the decider by overcoming Indonesia’s Diki Hartato in the semi-finals, displaying composure and tactical maturity in the higher weight category.
The gold was Amir’s first at the Sea Games after winning back-to-back bronze medals in the lighter under-73kg class at the 2021 Hanoi and 2023 Phnom Penh editions.
His move up to the under-81kg division proved decisive in Thailand, ending Malaysia’s wait for a gold medal in the sport at the games.
Amir had already etched his name into the record books in 2022 when he became the first Malaysian judoka to win a Commonwealth Games medal, securing bronze in the men’s under-73kg category at the Birmingham Games.
Malaysia also won two judo bronzes at the ongoing games via Ivan Ong in the men’s 90kg to 100kg class and Nor Izzatul Fazlia Tahir (women’s over-78kg).
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd