KUCHING: Stephanie Mary Ensol bagged four medals in the Asia Powerlifting Championship held in Almaty, Kazakhstan from December 2 to 5. Five hundred representatives from 22 countries took part in the event.
Youth and Sports Assistant Minister Datuk Snowdan Lawan and Sarawak Sports Corporation (SSC) chief executive officer Dr Ong Kong Swee were among those at Kuching International Airport (KIA) yesterday to receive Stephanie back from the tournamwent.
From Kampung Remon, Serian, the 31-year-old athlete won two gold medals and two silver medals at the meet. She won a gold each in the under 47kg category overall and deadlift and a silver each in the benchpress and squat.
“It is not easy competing with 500 participants including six other Malaysian champions in the tournament, but she emerged as one of the best.
“She will be competing for South East Asia (SEA) Cup in Bangkok in April 2020, and we have high hopes that she will bring back something as well,” Snowdown told reporters.
The assistant minister also said that the state will reward Stephanie for her outstanding performance.
Meanwhile, Stephanie told reporters that her dream is to do well in the sports at the world level.
Her coach Neil Pick stated that he is happy with the athlete’s performance and “hopefully after the SEA Cup she will take part in be the World Classic Powerlifting Championships,”
Stephanie was a silver medalist in the IPF Asian Pacific Classic and Equipped Powerlifting and Benchpress Championship 2019. She also came in seventh in the World Classic Powerlifting Championship in June.
