Failed To Win The Paris 2024 Olympics Weightlifting Medal, Said Nurul Akmal

Indonesian lifter Nurul Akmal failed to carry out a clean and jerk class in the women's +81 kg class of the 2024 Paris Olympics at the South Paris Arena, Paris, France, Sunday (11/8/2024). (ANTARA PHOTO/WAHYU PUTRO A)

JAKARTA - Indonesia's mainstay women's weightlifter Nurul Akmal made his match at the 2024 Paris Olympics an inspiration to improve his ability to face competitions in the future.

"Thank you all for supporting Amel (Nurul Akmal's nickname). There are many lessons that can be taken, Amel meets world-class opponents. In the future Amel must be even more enthusiastic and better," said Nurul in a written statement from the Indonesian Olympic Committee (KOI) received in Jakarta, Sunday.

Nurul is the last athlete from the Indonesian team to appear at the 2024 Paris Olympics in the women's +81 weightlifting match at the South Paris Arena 6, Sunday (11/8) local time.

The lifter from Aceh ended the match perched in 12th place with a total lift of 245 kg.

In the follow-up match, Nurul managed to lift a load of 105 kg in his first attempt. However, he failed in the next two attempts when lifting a load of 110 kg.

Furthermore, in the class and jerk match, Nurul, who installed a load of 140 kg, managed smoothly. In the second batch, he managed to increase his load to 145 kg but lost his load too quickly so that it was considered a failure, and in his last attempt also failed in the 151 kg lift.

Nurul said he felt a very different atmosphere at the Paris Olympics compared to when he appeared at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

"There are many viewers here and everyone is supportive of anyone who plays supported by them. Today I have tried my best, playing and enjoying it," he said.

Furthermore, Nurul said he also felt satisfied to appear in the arena again wearing the hijab for the first time at the Olympics.

"This is the first time on stage wearing a hijab. Very proud even though there is an issue of banning the hijab at the Olympics, but Amel can use it. Because Amel is Acehnese, so he wants to show it to everyone. Amel wants to tell you that the Muslim woman wearing the hijab can also excel in performing the Olympics," he explained.

The women's +81 weightlifting match was won by Chinese lifter Li Wen Wen who won a gold medal with a total lift of 309 kg. While Park Hyejeong's silver medal from South Korea won 299 kg and Emily Campbell won bronze from England with a total lift of 288 kg.

At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Indonesia included 29 athletes from 12 sports. Indonesia won two gold medals through rock climbing athlete Veddriq Leonardo and men's lifter Rizki Juniansyah, as well as one bronze medal contributed by women's singles badminton athlete Gregoria Mariska Tunjung.