Sazali wins record seventh Mr Asia title

Date: 09-08-2010 Posted by: Anabolic Info TeamMalaysia

Sazali Samad has sealed his place in the history books as the most successful Malaysian bodybuilder after claiming a record seventh Mr Asia title.

Sazali came out tops in the below 70kg (lightweight) category final at the Asian men’s bodybuilding and physique championships in Teheran last Saturday. Iranian Yousef Karimi took the silver medal and Thailand’s Khuntan Puangphet won the bronze.

Sazali won his first Mr Asia title in 1996 in the bantamweight category and followed up with triumphs in 1998, 1999, 2000, 2004 and 2009.

The previous most decorated Malaysian bodybuilder at the Asian level was Datuk Malek Noor, who was a swix-time winner in the heavyweight category.

Sazali’s triumph is certainly a welcome boost to his hopes of making another successful title defence in the world men’s championships in Baku, Azerbaijan, from Nov 6-8.

The 43-year-old policeman from Batu Pahat will be chasing a sixth world crown and there will be no let-up in training during the fasting month, which begins on Wednesday.

“I was determined to do well in the Asian championships this year as bodybuilding is not in the Asian Games programme this time,” said Sazali, who returned home from Teheran yesterday.

“Winning the Asian championships at least soothe the disappointment of not being able to contribute to the country at the Guangzhou Asiad (in November).

“If bodybuilding were in the Asian Games, I would have been good for a medal as I won a silver in the previous one in Doha four years ago.

“I have succeeded in the Asian championships and I will now turn my attention to preparing for the world championships.”

There was a pleasant surprise for Sazali at the KLIA in Sepang. He was presented with a birthday cake by his wife, Hashrine Hashim, who chose to celebrate the occasion there as third son Muhammad Hisyamuddin, coincidentally, also turned six yesterday.

At the Asian championships, Malaysia also bagged a silver through Mohd Syarul Azman Mahen Abdullah in the Body Classic category. The third Malaysian representative, Buda Anchah, was placed fourth in the below 60kg category.