Pahang: Judo exponent Danish Mirza Nasrin hopes to earn a spot in the national squad after ending his two-year wait for the gold medal by winning the men's above 90-kilogramme (kg) event at the Selangor Malaysia Games (SUKMA) 2026 here today. The 18-year-old sealed victory over Penang's Shaldon Yanjun Thae with an ippon in the final at the Shah Alam Ideal Convention Centre.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the victory marks a significant achievement for the Kuantan exponent, who previously returned home without any medals on his debut in the Sarawak edition two years ago. Danish Mirza expressed that his biggest sacrifice to reach this point was forgoing time with friends and gaming to focus on training for judo. He expressed hope for a national call-up following his win.

Danish Mirza's journey to the final was notable as he defeated Johor black belt holder Amir Luqman Azhar in the semi-finals. He credited his coach's instructions for his victory over his higher-ranked opponent, emphasizing that the belt color does not determine success on the court. Danish recalled his coach's words, "anything can happen on the tatami," which motivated him to give his best performance.

Meanwhile, Johor's Amir Luqman Azhar and Selangor's Kok Jean Feng shared the bronze medal for the men's above 90kg event.