Ready for action
Bodybuilders ready for South-east Asia championship
Bodybuilders ready for SouthEast Asia Championship in Yangon, Myanmar this weekend.
GYM instructor Abdul Mutalib Md Isa is looking forward to the South-east Asia body building championship in Yangon, Myanmar, this weekend.
The 34-year-old Abdul Mutalib, the father of two daughters, will be making his debut in the championships and wants to be on the podium.
“It will be my first foreign competition as well as my first for the year. Naturally, I would like it to be a memorable one.
“I am well prepared for the challenge in Yangon,” said Abdul Mutalib.
In Yangon, Abdul Mutalib, who helms Maxx Gym in Klang, will be lining up in the middleweight category (80kg).
His last competition was the Mr Gym 1Malaysia held in Selangor on Dec 31, where he emerged the winner in the 75kg and above category.
Besides Abdul Mutalib, the Malaysian Body Building Federation (MBBF) has picked three other body builders— Mohd Shayrul Azman Mahen, Azhar Mohamed and George Awie — for the three-day competition.
Mohd Shayrul, who is also the captain of the team, will be taking part in the championships for the second time.
His first outing was in 2009, when he was a finalist and finished an impressive fifth.
A former Kuala Lumpur President’s Cup football player, Mohd Syahrul’s last competition was in Malacca in November last year.
“I took a break after the championships and only resumed training about a month ago. I am 80% physically ready.
“I am now concentrating on my diet and I have to thank my sponsors — Celebrity Fitness, Tara Photography and Target Sdn Bhd — for their support.
“If not for their assistance, I don’t think it would be possible for me to be actively involved in body building,” said Mohd Shayrul.
In Yangoon, Mohd Shayrul will be in action in the lightweight category (70kg and below). Although he expects an intense battle from his counterparts in the Asean region, Mohd Shayrul is confident of making the final.
“My immediate target will be the final. After that it would be great if I could finish among the top three.
“It is a reasonable target and something within my reach,” added Mohd Syarul.
Being the most senior body builder in the Malaysian team, Mohd Syarul will also have to shoulder the responsibility to guide Abdul Mutalib, Azhar and George.
Azhar and George will be taking part in the light middleweight and light heavyweight categories respectively.
Mohd Syarul said the Malaysians have a good chance of making an impact in the championships.
Abdul Mutalib, Azhar and George are dedicated athletes.
“They want to do well and I am ready to help them,” he said.