KUALA LUMPUR: Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu has congratulated national weightlifter Muhammad Aniq Kasdan for winning the country's first gold medal at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games today.

He said the win was very special as the country had failed to win any medals since the start of the Games last Thursday.

"Alhamdullilah the country's first gold medal at #Birmingham2022. Congratulations Aniq Kasdan. Thanks for your efforts till now #DemiMalaysia.

"This victory is all the sweeter as Mohd Aniq also managed to smash the Commonwealth record for the men's category with a total lift of 249 kg! Come Malaysia, let's continue to pray for even more success!" he posted on Twitter.

India"s Sanket Mahadev Sargar won the silver with a total of 248 kg while the bronze went to Dilanka Isuru Kumara Yodage of Sri Lanka with his total of 225 kg.

-- BERNAMA