Syarul Azman, Lilian glad their hard work paid off

SEPANG: Gold medallists Syarul Azman Mahen Abdullah and Lilian Tan are happy that their hard work and struggles paid off at the World Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Championships in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Relating the difficulties they faced, Syarul Azman thanked Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman for helping him get the RM20,000 awarded to him under the National Sports Incentives Scheme (Shakam) almost a year ago.

“I waited for nearly a year. If he did not help me, I would not have competed in the world meet. I did not have any money to prepare for it,” he told reporters at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2.

Syarul Azman, who won the Asian title in October, became the first athlete to emerge as the champion in the men’s Athletic Physique up to 167cm for the third straight time.

He said that he did not drink water for nearly 15 hours before the final in Chiang Mai as he did not want to jeopardise his performance.

“It was more challenging for me this year as there were more competitors and I was the defending champion. Many officials from other teams said a day before the event that competition would be stiff and it affected my focus a bit.

“I only regained my confidence when my coach told me that I had the advantage based on muscle mass. Before the final, my coach told me not to drink too much water. So, I did not drink for nearly 15 hours...I only ate dried stuff,” he said.

Lilian, meanwhile, described her two-gold feat as the best in her career, although the Penangite also faced financial difficulties in her two-year preparation for the meet.

She said her friends helped raise funds for her through the social media.

“I managed to raise 15 percent from the fund. I had to fork out the rest. I want to thank everyone for their contribution,” she said.

The 45-year-old Lilian won the women’s 55kg category to repeat her feat in Bangkok (2012), Mumbai (2014) and Pattaya (2016).

She also triumphed in the 30 years and above category to become the first female athlete to win two trophies in the same edition.