Bodybuilding: Sazali rather take on the world

BODYBUILDER Sazali Samad's (pic) decision to concentrate only on one major championships a year will see him skip the Korat Sea Games on Dec 6-15.

He has instead opted for the World Bodybuilding Championships in Jeagu, South Korea (Oct 25-29) where he will be gunning for his fourth Mr Universe title under a new class - 70kg lightweight category.

Sazali, 40, previously won the Mr Universe title under the 65kg bantamweight category at the World Championships in Malacca (2000), Moscow (2004) and Ostrva, Czech Republic (2006).

However, Sazali, will still be heading to the Games as a technical coach.

"The Malaysian Bodybuilding Federation (MBBF) has decided that I do not contest in this year's Sea Games. I'm not disappointed as the World Championships is my top priority," said Sazali, who is also the five-time Mr Asia (1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2004), yesterday.
"The MBBF recently decided that only the back-up athletes will represent the country in Korat."

On his decision to switch to the 70kg category, Sazali said that competition in the 65kg was becoming more stiff as several top bodybuilders were opting to compete in the lower weight class.

"I will have a better chance of winning by moving to a higher (70kg) category. I hope to win my fourth Mr Universe title in Jaeju,"

Sazali, had a great start in the 70kg category when he won the gold medal at the World Police and Fire Games in Australia in March.

Meanwhile, MBBF honorary secretary Francis Yoong said he would be recommending only three new faces to the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) for Korat. "We are confident that the three athletes will win medals," he said.

However, he declined to reveal the identity of the new faces for the Sea Games.

Eight gold medals will be on offer for bodybuilding in Korat.

New Straits Times