Buda (right) and Malvern display their medals.
KUCHING (Oct 5): Buda Anchah and Dr Malvern Abdullah have made Sarawak proud by bagging silver medals at the 12th World Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Championships, held at the Hugo Arena in Tashkent, Republic of Uzbekistan on Monday.
Retired Royal Malaysian Air Force officer Buda, 48, placed second in both Men’s Bodybuilding-Up to 70kg and Men’s Masters 40-49 Years-Up to 80kg categories, while business lecturer Malvern earned his silver medal from Men’s Bodybuilding-Up to 60kg event.
Malvern, 46, also finished fifth in the same Masters category that Buda competed in.
In his congratulatory message, Kuching South Mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng, who is also president of Sarawak Bodybuilding Association (SBBA), said he was very proud of Buda and Malvern.
“We have no regret in sending the two (to the championships).
“That said, we would not have been able to go far without the support from the Minister of Youth and Sports Sarawak Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, and Assistant Minister Datuk Snowdan Lawan.
“Datuk (Abdul Karim) immediately responded within a day after we submitted the letter requesting funding and other necessary support meant for Buda and Malvern.
“Our thanks also to Dr Ong (Kong Swee) from Sarawak Sports Corporation for making all the necessary arrangements for our two elite bodybuilding athletes,” he told The Borneo Post here.
Wee also extended his gratitude to Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas and Minister of Local Government and Housing Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian for their ongoing contributions to Sarawak bodybuilding over the years.
The seven-day world championships, which kicked off last Friday, is organised by World Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Federation (WBPF).
It is Malvern’s seventh appearance in the WBPF event, while Buda has been in the federation’s competitive circuit since 2009.