KUCHING: Sarawak bodybuilders who bagged two gold and two bronze medals at the 56th Asian Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Championship are appealing for support and recognition from the government.
Sarawak BodyBuilding Association president Datuk Wee Hong Seng, who is also the mayor of the Kuching South City Council, said Sarawak have played a significant role in contributing to this championship held in Batam City, Indonesia, and it’s crucial that we continue to support these athletes, especially through the ministry.
“While there are incentives in place, it’s important to assist them even further. The next challenge for our bodybuilders is the Mr. World competition, where we’ve already seen remarkable progress.
“I’m genuinely happy for them. We’ve been closely monitoring their efforts, and it’s clear that they are doing everything they can to make Sarawak proud. However, as with most sports, funding remains a key concern, and it’s something we need to address,” he said when welcoming the bodybuilders at the Kuching International Airport (KIA) yesterday (Aug 13).
Philomena Dexclyn Siar who recently won gold for the competition in Batam City, Indonesia, said there’s a need for more robust backing to elevate the country’s standing in the bodybuilding area
“Representing Malaysia has always been an honour for every one of us. It is a privilege, we are thankful for all the help and support that we receive from everyone.
“All the motivation and encouraging words that you guys have posted and sent to each and every one of us. But we also would like the support, especially from the government, to actually acknowledge us on our achievement as well.
“So I hope the government can actually look at this where we can actually be appreciated more and help to continue to bring the country’s name to a higher standard. We never fail to bring medals,” she said.
Looking ahead to the upcoming World Championships, she remains optimistic about adding more medals to her growing collection.
Meanwhile Dr. Malvern Abdullah, another seasoned competitor who won gold, shared insights into the challenges faced by athletes, even those who are highly experienced.
“There are still challenges even though we are seasoned. But as usual, our opponents always improve. So we will always be ready. Among the obstacles, maintaining a strict diet and managing time for training are key factors in our preparation,” he said.
“It was a very close fight between myself and the Vietnamese competitors. I think I managed to beat him by a slim margin, and my conditioning is better this time,” he added.
The championship also saw another newcomer Joseph Lidi, a Sarawakian under the Royal Malaysia Police winning bronze.
The athletes from Sarawak staged a commendable performance in the Batam outing, contributing two gold and two bronze medals to the Malaysian contingent’s overall 14-medal haul of 5 gold, 2 silver, 7 bronze.
Malaysia also ranked number three among the 30 contingents competing this year.
