M’sia’s bodybuilders surpass medal target in Hanoi
KUCHING: The national bodybuilding squad concluded their campaign in the 31st SEA Games with one gold, three silver and four bronze medals, exceeding its 1-2-3 medal target.
The highlight of Team Malaysia’s last day of competition at Hanoi Sports Competition and Training Centre last Sunday was when Mohd Syarul Azman Mahen Abdullah ‘outmuscled’ Tien Nguyen Minh from the host Vietnam and Pong Pala of Thailand to clinch the gold medal in the Men’s Athletic Physique Open category.
It was a sweet victory for Mohd Syarul, 48, who had almost missed out on competing due to Covid-19.
The former Kuala Lumpur footballer initially risked being dismissed from the event after testing positive for coronavirus upon arrival in Hanoi last week. He was only cleared after having undergone five more RTKAg tests, all of which showed negative results.
Meanwhile, Dr Malvern Abdullah and Shelen Aderina Kok also did not disappoint on the final day when they bagged the bronze medal in the Mixed Pair category. Duy Thuan Tran Hoang and Thoa Bui Thi of Vietnam came out tops followed by Wanchai Kanjanapimine and Siriporn Sornchuay of Thailand.
The other Malaysian pair in that category were Buda AnchahMeilaura Dora Jimmy who made the top 5.
It was still a commendable result for Buda after he bagged a silver medal from the Men’s 70kg category the day before. The Sri Aman-born muscleman, who managed a bronze medal at the 2013 Games in Myanmar, displayed a much-improved performance in Hanoi.
It was also a memorable 2022 Games for debutant and Miriborn Azri Asmat Sefri who produced a surprise silver medal in the Men’s 55kg category on the opening day. Mach Pam Van of Vietnam was first and Myanmar’s Kyaw Min Than third.
Fellow Bornean, Zmarul AlAdam Pulutan Abdullah, kept the momentum going in the Men’s 75kg category, obtaining the silver behind Vietnam’s Duy Thuan Tran and ahead of Wichai Singthong of Thailand.
Zmarul, who hails from Nabawan in Sabah, was also making his SEA Games debut.
Malaysia’s other bronze medallists were Kuching-born Malvern (Men’s 65kg), Zainal Arif Zainal Ariffin (Men’s 80kg) and Muhammad Uzair Mat Noor (Men’s 85kg).
Shelen and Meilaura placed in the top 5 in the Women’s Bodybuilding Open as did Ahmad Faiz Ariffin in the Men’s Athletic Physique Open.