KUALA LUMPUR – National bodybuilding ace Mohd Syarul Azman Mahen Abdullah, also known as Mike, is optimistic about defending his Mr Asia title at the 54th Asian Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Championships from July 15 to 23 in the Maldives.
The 49-year-old athlete, however, admitted that the competition which resumes after a two-year hiatus would be more challenging.
“I will go there with ‘my best foundation’, but since the tournament has not been held for two years, I do not know how the situation is with the other athletes, especially from the Middle East. If athletes are from Southeast Asia I can usually read them better.
“Athletes from the Middle East such as Iran, Qatar, Bahrain, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan are among my biggest challengers, while those from Southeast Asia such as Thailand and Vietnam are also great rivals,” he said when met yesterday.
The four-time world champion who recently won the gold at the SEA Games in Hanoi said as there were only six weeks to go before he headed to the Maldives, he was still on a strict diet and discipline to remain in the best shape ahead of the competition. – Bernama, June 1, 2022
