PETALING JAYA: Nine-time Mr Universe Sazali Samad believes he’s experienced enough to handle issues like debatable judging in the body building competition when he competes in the Myanmar SEA Games from Dec 12-15.
The two-time SEA Games champion will be making a return to the biennial meet for the first time since the controversial 2005 edition in Manila.
Then, Sazali was the favourite in the bantamweight (65kg) category but even he was stunned when Filipino Michael Borenaga was declared the winner.
A year later, he was “robbed” of the gold medal in the 64kg category at the Doha Asian Games when he controversially lost to the United Arab Emirates’ Mohammed Salem Abdullah Zahmi.
The 46-year-old police sub-inspector, who won his ninth world title in the World Bodybuilding and Physique Championships in Hungary two weeks ago, said that it is normal to face biased judging in regional competitions.
“Body building is a subjective sport ... I’m ready to face questionable judging. I just have to focus on giving my best in Myanmar,” said Sazali.
“Expectations are high on me to deliver a gold medal since I’ve just won the World Bodybuilding and Physique Championships. I may be a nine-time world champion, but it won’t be easy to win in Myanmar.
“Other competitors are catching up fast and they see me as the man to beat. I think Vietnam, Thailand and Myanmar will be strong contenders for the gold medal this time.”
The Batu Pahat local claimed his first gold medal in the 1997 Jakarta Games and repeated the feat six years later in Hanoi in 2003.
The father of three, who also won a bronze in his debut in the 1993 Singapore Games, did not compete in the last three editions.
He went to Korat in 2007 as a trainer and the sport was not featured in the last two Games in Laos and Palembang.
“I really hope to win a gold medal in Myanmar ... I’ve been selected to be the flag bearer for the contingent and it has given me an extra motivation to win the gold,” said Sazali.
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