Kuala lumpur: National weightlifting ace Mohamad Aniq Kasdan says the first thing he wants to do after returning home from the 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games is enjoy his mother's cooking. Fresh from winning Malaysia's first gold medal at the Games, Mohamad Aniq admitted he had long been craving authentic Malaysian food after spending an extended period training and competing overseas.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Mohamad Aniq expressed his yearning for home-cooked meals, noting the differences between his dietary routine abroad and his preferred Malaysian dishes. "First of all, it has to be my mum's cooking. Usually when I'm training in Turkiye, breakfast is bread or European-style meals. So here I can finally enjoy soto, fried noodles and other local dishes. I've really missed the food," he told reporters upon arrival at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) here today.
Although he has been given a week off in his hometown in Johor, the 24-year-old stressed that he would continue training in preparation for the upcoming Asian Games. "I can't really call it a break because even when I return to Johor, I'll still be training to prepare for the Asian Games," he said.
Commenting on his target for the Asian Games, Mohamad Aniq said he was determined to improve the national record and challenge for a medal despite expecting stiff competition from Olympic-calibre lifters. He also revealed that the Asian Games will be his final appearance in the 60-kilogramme (kg) category before moving up to the 65kg division in pursuit of qualification for the Olympic Games.
He elaborated on his future plans, stating, "This Asian Games will be my last competition in the 60kg category. After that, I'll move up to 65kg to qualify for the Olympics. My weight management and lifting progression have been planned for a long time with the assistance of the National Sports Institute (NSI)."
Mohamad Aniq expressed appreciation for the support provided under the Road to Gold (RTG) programme, which has accelerated his recovery through comprehensive physiotherapy and psychological support. "The RTG programme has helped me a lot. Treatment is faster, and recovery is much smoother. With this support, the mission of qualifying for the Los Angeles Olympics is not impossible," he said.
Earlier, Mohamad Aniq delivered Malaysia's first gold medal in Glasgow after recording a total lift of 273kg to set a new Games record.