Commonwealth hero Amir finds coaching at Sukma harder than winning gold

Shah Alam: Amir Daniel Abdul Majeed, Malaysia's Commonwealth Games judo champion, has found coaching 13 young athletes at Sukma to be even more demanding than securing the country's first judo gold medal. The Penang judoka, who now oversees the team, admitted that guiding the younger competitors brings a unique kind of pressure.

Amir has watched many of the young judokas grow up, train together, and compete, making his role as coach even more personal. He expressed feeling more nervous in his new position, as he now has to focus on the well-being of 13 individuals instead of just himself. Despite the increased responsibility, Amir enjoys seeing the young athletes succeed, stating that the satisfaction of witnessing their achievements is rewarding.

With Penang claiming three gold medals in the judo competition, Amir hopes the team's wins will motivate them to train harder and prepare for future competitions. Though Amir faces greater scrutiny due to his fame, he believes the positive and negative reactions are part of an athlete's journey. Amir remains open to competing in the Asian Games, aiming to gain exposure and ranking points to advance his Olympic dream.