The champion and Malvern (second left) with other members of the Malaysian contingent – (from right) head coach Sgt Othman Yahya, Intan Syafinaz Mohamad and internationally-certified bodybuilding judge Murugan Gananam.
Syarul Azman strikes a pose for the camera while still on a video-call with multiple Asian bodybuilding champion Buda Anchah, who wants to congratulate the winner.
KUCHING: A fourth Asian bodybuilding championship gold medal is a welcome addition to any prize collection, even to Syarul Azman Mahen Abdullah’s already-packed trophy cabinet.
The 45-year-old KL-born topped the Men’s Athletic Physique (Up to 170cm) finals of the 52nd Asian Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Championships in Pune, India on Saturday.
Kushal of India and Tranh Hu of Vietnam were placed second and third respectively.
“Thank you, God, I did it again – gold for Malaysia at Mr Asia,” Syarul Azman wrote on his Facebook page.
The seasoned bodybuilder was among three athletes representing Malaysia at the annual championships and organised by World Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Federation (WBPF).
Sarawakian Dr Malvern Abdullah made it to the top five of the Flyweight (Up to 60kg) finals but only managed to place fourth.
The champion was India’s Bhaskaran of India while runner-up and third were Tun Tun Aung of Myanmar and Gaurrav Bhandari of India.
Ahmad Faiz Ariffin put up a good fight but did not make the cut for the Men’s Athletic Physique (Up to 175cm) finals.
This year’s championships gathered more than 400 male and female athletes from 28 Asian countries at Shri Shiv Chatrapati Sports Complex in Pune.
Fifty-one events were staged including the newly-introduced ‘Para-Bodybuilding’ category.