Buda with his ‘Champion of Champions’ trophy.
KUCHING: Seasoned muscleman Buda Anchah struck gold at the annual Mr Boulevard/Mr BBS 2017 championships, staged at Boulevard Shopping Mall here on Saturday.
The 45-year-old former Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) officer claimed the coveted ‘Champion of Champions’ crown after coming out tops in Mr Boulevard (Senior Bodybuilding) Under-70kg category, where Wilfred Harding of Kuching and Anthony Tebie Rapheal of Sibu placed respective second and third.
“This was a great event not solely because I won the overall championship, but also because the competition hosted both seasoned bodybuilders and new, young talents.
“It really touched my heart when Dato Wee Hong Seng (president of Sarawak Bodybuilding Association, or SBBA) said my presence at Mr Boulevard 2017 was an inspiration to other contestants.
“Actually, it was me who’s inspired, because seeing these young talents remind me of myself back when I first started bodybuilding,” said Buda — a two-time Mr Asia double gold medallist.
(From right) Buda and Awang Azizul flex for the judges during the ‘Champion of Champion’ showdown.
Adding on, Buda said he and fellow Sarawakians, Dr Malvern Abdullah and Awang Azizul Ghani, would be looking forward to their upcoming trip to South Korea for the 51st Asian Bodybuilding Championships.
The trio will join fellow athlete Mohd Syahrul Azman Mahen Abdullah in Kuala Lumpur this Aug 19 before departing for Seoul later this month.
Meanwhile in other categories, Awang Azizul won Mr Boulevard Above-70kg category, while the respective runners-up were Farrokh Ibtisam Ting of Sibu and Huang Chee Yang of Kuching.
In Mr BBS (Athletic Physique) Under-170cm challenge, the ‘Comeback Kid’ Joseph Ladi of Kota Samarahan clinched the title eyed by other 18 contestants – the highest number of participation among all four categories.
Placing behind Joseph were Abang Ahmad Agus Khalil and Hamizul Jahwi, both representing Kuching.
In Mr BBS Above-170cm, young newcomer Muhammad Azri Nazaruddin of Kuching won over senior athletes Allen Lee of Sibu and Abdul Ramzi Bujang of Kuching.
The fourth edition of Mr Boulevard/Mr BBS gathered nearly 40 athletes, coming from all across Malaysia. The competition was a part of activities run under the shopping mall’s annual ‘Health Week’ campaign.
Wee, Sibu Division Bodybuilding and Weightlifting Association president Chia Soon Cheong, SBBA secretary Andy Ismail, Boulevard Shopping Mall functions and marketing manager Chin Sze King and director of event’s key sponsor Borneo Bodybuilding Supplement (BBS) Adrian Wong presented the prizes.