Ismadi receiving prizes for winning the Pro Bodybuilding category.
Ismadi flanked by Riano (right) and Azahar during their backstage break.
BANGKOK: Police corporal Ismadi Riji and Riano Engah staged a triumphant show at this year’s FitWhey Classic 4.0 Bodybuilding Championships here last weekend.
Kuching-born Ismadi took the Pro Bodybuilding title, while Sabahan Riano excelled in the Body Classic category.
“This is truly a sweet victory for me, especially after my win at this year’s World Police and Fire Games 2015 in Fairfax, Virginia (USA) in June.
I am also happy to see a fellow Sarawakian, Eddie Chan competing in the same category,” the 36-year-old told The Borneo Post after the grand finals on Sunday.
Ismadi added that he came as an underdog in the category which featured three-time Thai champion Surachai Plangaium.
“It was a tough fight, but I’m very happy to have convinced the judges that I deserve the title,” he said.
Placed second was fellow Malaysian Dinesh Kumar, while Surachai finished third.
Overall, Malaysia performed well although the national athletes did not participate as a team.
“It’s an open competition, so coming here was on individual’s inititiative,” said Riano, 39, who finished ahead of T Kasame of Thailand and Azahar Mohamad of Malaysia in the Body Classic event.
In other categories, Hairul Izwan was runner-up in the Bodybuilding Open challenge which Jeremiah Rukong from Sarawak was also vying.
“I managed to place among the top 15, which for me was a memorable feat considering that it was my first international exposure,” said Jeremiah, 35.
The FitWhey Classic is an annual bodybuilding and physique competition which has been attracting international participants since 2009.
It was known as the Siam Classic championships before 2012.