KUCHING: Malaysia returned from Bangkok with a glittering haul of medals after excelling at two bodybuilding championships – the 57th Asian Bodybuilding and Physique Sports and the 19th Southeast Asian Bodybuilding and Physique Sports (SEABP) Championships.
The 26-member national squad collected four gold, four silver and seven bronze at the Asian meet, followed by one gold, three silver and four bronze from the Southeast Asian event.
Sarawak’s athletes played a pivotal role in the success.
Among the standout performers were Dr Malvern Abdullah, who bagged silver in the Men’s Athletic Physique-160 cm; Philomena Dexclyn Siar, who clinched bronze in the Women’s Sports Physique-Over 165 cm; and two other bronzes courtesy of Joseph Ladi (Men’s Bodybuilding – 65 kg) and Azri Asmat Sefri (55 kg).
Several others – including Mohd Afif Jamal, Ong Shih Ling, Asrul Asmat Sefri and Awang Mohd Azizul Ghani – also secured Top 5 finishes in their categories.
National coach and Sarawak-born former bodybuilding star, Buda Anchah, hailed the team’s effort, saying the results reflected discipline, resilience and pride.
“Our athletes from Sarawak have proven their grit and discipline. They fought with heart, carried the nation’s pride, and showed they belong on the international stage,” he said upon arrival at Kuching International Airport on Tuesday.
These victories put Sarawak firmly in the driver’s seat of Malaysian bodybuilding, cementing its status as a talent factory and proving its athletes have the muscle, grit and pedigree to dominate on the international stage. – TVS
