IF there's any award for best achievement by a sports association, I think Year 2012 belongs to the Malaysian Body Building Federation (MBBF).
In spite of not receiving that much attention from the government and sponsors, perhaps due to the fact that bodybuilding is not an event at the Olympics, the MBBF is doing fine.
At the World Bodybuilding and Physique Federation World Championships in Bangkok recently, the MBBF scored the rare distinction of securing three gold medals and a bronze, what is considered as the association's best outing thus far.
Sazali Samad has won a total of eight
Mr Universe and Mr Asia titles
At the meet, our bodybuilders took centre stage when 45-year-old policeman Sazali Samad continued to stamp his marks as one of the best bodybuilders in the world to clinch the gold in the 70kg category, creating a record of sorts for having won a total of eight Mr Universe and Mr Asia titles ("Sazali triumphs again" -- NST, Dec 9)
Lilian Tan struck a perfect pose to take the gold in the above 50kg category in women's bodybuilding, while Wong Hong retained his Masters (40 to 50 age group) and Mohd Shahrul Azman secured a bronze medal in the men's physique 170cm category. They all deserve our praise.
These athletes have served the nation well and we should be proud of them. We must recognise their successes and reward them well, just as we often do to athletes in other sports.
W.M. Ramli, Ulu Klang, Selangor | letters@nstp.com.my New Straits Times Online Letters to the Editor 28 December 2012
