SINGAPORE - National weightlifter Scott Wong rewrote his own national record in the 105kg category on Saturday (July 2) at the Victorian Weightlifting Association Open & Masters Championships in Melbourne.

The 25-year-old lifted 136kg in the snatch and 170kg in the clean & jerk for a combined total of 306kg to emerge victorious in the open category among 19 male participants.

The previous national mark was a 290kg total that Wong had set at the British Students Championships in London in April.

He said: "I'm really happy with this result. It's the first time I've completed six successful lifts and that 170kg clean & jerk came out of nowhere. There's lots of positives out of this competition for me."

Wong is a former discus thrower who made the switch in 2013. The University of Manchester final-year medicine student only started full training in early February after finishing his exams and will begin his housemanship in September.

He trains with Australia-based coach Yurik Sarkisyan virtually. The last time the pair met was in August last year

Wong competed in the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and finished last of 12 competitors. He is targeting another appearance at the next Games in 2018 held in Australia's Gold Coast.