Kuala lumpur: National weightlifter Irene Jane Henry's Commonwealth Games debut was a bittersweet experience as she lost out on the silver medal by a mere kilogramme (kg) during her competition here today. While her disappointment was obvious, she was nonetheless grateful to win the bronze medal in the women's 48 kg category with a combined lift of 167 kg, a kilogramme less than the 168 kg lifted by silver medalist Ruth Asuquo Nyong from Nigeria.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Irene Jane expressed mixed emotions following her performance. "Losing by one kg really hurts, but I've done my best. I can't ask for an extra lift as there are only three tries, so I can only accept the results," she stated. Despite her initial disappointment, she found solace in achieving her personal target of a podium finish in her debut at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) Armadillo.

Backstage, Irene Jane admitted to feeling nervous and scared but was determined to secure a medal. Her bronze medal held special significance as she expressed gratitude to her supporters. "Even though it's not a silver medal, I'm grateful to get a bronze for Malaysia. To my family and fans in Malaysia, especially in Sabah, thank you for your support and prayers," she added.

During today's competition, Irene Jane showcased consistency in the snatch, successfully completing all her three attempts - 72 kg, 75 kg, and 77 kg. Her first clean and jerk attempt at 90 kg was deemed unsuccessful, but she managed to lift the same weight in her second attempt, despite her challenge against the decision being turned down. Her final attempt to lift 93 kg for a silver medal was unsuccessful.

Reflecting on her performance, she remarked, "I think maybe it just wasn't my day as I have lifted 93 kg many times before. Maybe the condition of my body today wasn't that great," acknowledging the challenge of replicating her training success under competitive conditions. The gold medal was claimed by Mirabai Chanu of India with a combined lift of 190 kg.