Malvern (left photo) and Philomena (right photo) at the World Bodybuilding Championships in South Korea from Nov 6-12, 2023. Photos credit: Philomena Dezclyn Siar

By Wilfred Pilo

KUCHING, Nov 12: Sarawak’s Dr Malvern Abdullah and Philomena Dexclyn Siar won the silver medal in the 160cm category and the bronze medal in the up to 165cm category, respectively, at the 14th World Bodybuilding and Physique Championships in South Korea from Nov 6-12.

Philomena, through her WhatsApp, told DayakDaily that another Sarawakian bodybuilding athlete, 30-year-old Asri Asmat Sefri, clinched fourth place in the up to 55kg category and fifth in the mixed category with Sabahan Meilaura Doro Jimmy.

“It was super challenging and exciting,” she replied through WhatsApp.

In September this year, the 40-year-old Philomena became the first Sarawakian and Bidayuh woman to win the Asian bodybuilding title in the same category at the 55th Asian Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Championships in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Malvern spotted her talent in 2018, and under his mentorship, Philomena made her competition debut at the FM League Physique War & Muscle War 2018 in Singapore.

Both athletes will be back in Kuching on Nov 14. — DayakDaily