Sazali Faces Daunting Task To Clinch Gold In Doha

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 2 (Bernama) -- Newly- crowned "Mr Universe" Sazali Samad and a gold medal prospect in the 65kg bantam weight category in the Doha Asian Games in December, says he expects a daunting task to win the medal.

The biggest challenge is expected to come from promising bodybuilders who are kept as a "secret" by participating countries.

Umpires' transparency at the Games is another hurdle.

For the 39-year-old Sazali, a policeman, his latest feat to clinch the Mr Universe title in the bantam weight at the 60th World Amateur Bodybuilding Championship in Ostrava, Czech Republic, on Sunday was not an automatic ticket to romp home gold in Doha.

"Probably, I can easily overcome the challenge posed by bodybuilders from Asean but bodybuilders from Asia are increasingly promising medal prospects.

"In fact, there are bodybuilders who skipped other championships to fully concentrate on the Asian Games."

"I came to know countries like Iran, Iraq and China "hide" their athletes to focus on the Asian Games," he told reporters,

Sazali said the umpires also played an important role in bodybuilding.

"Being a subjective sport, awarding points in bodybuilding can be easily manipulated," he said.

Sazali, who emerged as the world's first bodybuilder to win thrice in the same category after winning for the first time in Malacca in 2000 and defending it in Moscow in 2004, said another challenge for him is to maintain a suitable body weight.

"Two days before the Ostrava championship, I soaked myself in a sauna to reduce my weight from 68kg to 64kg," he said.

"After four hours in a sauna, I managed to shed four kilos. On my return from Ostrava, my weight has again increase to 69kg. Before I am in action in Doha, I need to reduce to 64, the competition body weight," he said.

Sazali, who will read out the pledge of the Malaysian Asiad squad at the handing over of the Jalur Gemilang by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi next week, will continue his training in California, before heading to Doha.

While there, he will be under the charge of the world's well-known bodybuilding coach Milos Sarcev to strengthen his muscles.