PETALING JAYA: National bodybuilders gave Malaysia a Merdeka lift by powering to five gold medals in two regional tournaments over the weekend in Bangkok, Thailand.
And it has made national coach and six-time former world champion Datuk Mohd Syarul Azman Mahen Abdullah a proud man.
Malaysia won four gold medals in the Asian Bodybuilding and Body Physique Championships through Zainal Arif Zainal Ariffin (men’s below 75kg category), Nazri Pulong (men’s masters below 80kg category), Ishak Hidayat (men’s below 80kg category) and Meilaura Dora Jimmy (women’s below 55kg category).
Malaysia also took home four silver and seven bronze medals in the Asian meet.
Syarul’s protege Aziz Ahmad also hogged the limelight when he made a perfect international debut by winning the men’s physique fitness up to 170cm height category in the South-East Asia (SEA) Championships, which was held concurrently.
Besides the only gold, Malaysia also won three silvers and four bronzes in the SEA Championships.
Aziz, who is 27, showed he has all the makings of a champion, also won a silver in the Asian meet.
Syarul, who became the national coach in March last year after announcing his retirement from competitive action, was pleased to see progress in the Malaysian bodybuilding scene.
“This is the first time that we sent 34 athletes to compete in the SEA and Asian Championships held at the same time,” said Syarul.
“Many new faces competed but did well to pick up medals and achieved good placings.
“I’m proud especially of Aziz as he won the only gold medal for Malaysia in the SEA Championships, in the same category that I used to compete and won silver at the Asian meet.
“Aziz is a newcomer to the sport and was very calm despite it being his first international competition.
“He is very disciplined and follows all the instructions given. We are certainly on the right track with him,” said Syarul.
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