Kuala lumpur: Malaysian powerlifter Abrienda Chan is aiming to rewrite the national records in the Under-57kg junior category at the Eagll Powerlifting Classic (EPC) 2026 later this month as she builds towards two major world championships next year. The 20-year-old Sarawakian, who previously dominated the Under-52kg sub-junior division and still holds the national records in all three lifts and total for the category, sees the June 19-20 competition in Kuala Lumpur as an important stepping stone in her preparations for the international stage.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Abrienda is focused on enhancing her technique and increasing her totals in squat, bench press, and deadlift to prepare for her goals next year. She plans to compete in the World Classic and Equipped Bench Press Championships 2027 in Istanbul, Turkiye, and the World Classic Sub-Junior and Junior Powerlifting Championships 2027 in Haining, China. Having moved up from the Under-52kg sub-junior category to the Under-57kg junior division last year, Abrienda has already noticed significant gains in strength and performance.
The SBD Cup 2025 Women's Classic Under-57kg Junior champion in South Korea said the transition to the new weight category has made her feel stronger, with improved numbers and better conditioning compared to when she was competing in the 52kg category. At the EPC 2026, Abrienda will target a squat of 135.5kg to surpass the current national junior record of 135kg, with her personal best standing at 125kg. She also aims to become the first Malaysian junior lifter in the U57 category to deadlift more than 150kg, targeting 150.5kg, with a current personal best of 142.5kg.
For the bench press, Abrienda has already exceeded the existing national junior record of 67.5kg with a personal best of 75kg and is looking to further improve her overall total. The 2024 Asian Classic Powerlifting Championships gold medallist trains five times a week, with her most demanding session lasting up to four hours as she prepares for the upcoming competition and her longer-term international ambitions.
Ranked 12th in the world in the Under-52kg sub-junior category in 2024, Abrienda's ultimate goal is to break into the world's top three in the Under-57kg junior division. She aspires for a world title in any form, whether it's a world top-three finish, a world record, or another international record. Having already achieved the status of an Asian champion, her next goal is to be among the best in the world. Abrienda also hopes to eventually compete in the open division and establish herself among the world's elite powerlifters.