Six-time world bodybuilding champion Syarul finally wins National Sportsman award

Winners all: Bodybuilder Mohd Syarul Azman Mahen Abdullah and bowler Natasha Roslan were crowned Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: Bodybuilder Datuk Mohd Syarul Azman Mahen Abdullah can sleep easy after this.

The 50-year-old former footballer from Kuala Lumpur finally achieved his lifelong career dream by winning the National Sportsman of the Year award for the first time. after being nominated five times before this.

Syarul is the third bodybuilder to win the prestigious award after Datuk Malek Noor (1986) and Sazali Samad (2000, 2006, 2013, 2014).

Syarul decided to call time on his illustrious 26-year career in the sport in March this year.

Bowler Natasha Roslan

But just before that, he flexed his muscle to win his sixth world title in South Korea and also became a six-time Asian champion in his body physique category in Nepal last year.

He was the top pick in his category last night against the likes of Asian No. @ bowler Rafiq Ismail, national squash champion Ng Eain Yow, equestrian rider Qabil Ambak and karate exponent Mohd Arif Afifuddin Ab Malik.

Eain Yow, Qabil and Arif were gold medallists for Malaysia at the Hangzhou Asian Games last year.

“It’s the highest recognition for a national athlete in the country and I am contented to finally be able to win this,” said Syarul.

“I’ve been nominated five times in the past when I became the world champion but I never succeeded, so this was like the last chance to complete my career.

“I quit football due to a serious knee injury when I was 19, so I turned to bodybuilding.

“I felt like it was already a recognition when I was nominated for the award for the first time in 2016. (He also won in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022 and 2023).

“But after getting nominated the next few times, I wanted to win it one day.

“I worked extra hard to be a dominant force in my sport and finally I’ve won the award, I really don’t know how to describe my happiness.

“I also hope this win can inspire more Malaysian athletes to become world champions.”

Syarul, who turned to coaching after March, also reached another milestone in the sports after guiding Joseph Ladi to the gold medal in the up to 65kg body physique category at the South-East Asian Bodybuilding and Body Physique Sports Championships in Laos last month.

“It’s another special moment for me, it was my first time being a coach and my student won the gold medal in his debut. He’s a great talent and I hope to help him become a world champion,” added Syarul.

In the women’s category, world champion (singles event) Natasha Roslan (bowling) was named as the recipient of the National Sportswoman award. She beat Asian Games double gold medallist squash player S. Sivasangari, Nur Amisha Azrilrizal (muay thai), Nur Syazrin Mohd Latif (sailing) and Nurul Alyani Jamil (lawn bowls).