Sarawak Police Contingent bodybuilding team eyes more glory

KUCHING: After clinching the overall champion title at the recent Mr Police and Mr Pahang 2024, the Sarawak Police Contingent bodybuilding team’s next goals are the 53rd Annual Mr Malaysia Body Building Championship 2024 (Mr Malaysia) and the 56th Asian Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Championship 2024 (Mr Asia).

Two of the athletes who will be competing in Mr Asia 2024 are Lance Corporal Mohd Faizal Mat Rashid (Men Sport Physique up to 170cm height) and Joseph Ladi (Bantamweight 65kg) while the other competing in Mr Malaysia 2024 are Corporal Mohd Al Badrul Abu in Men Sport Physique up to 175cm height and Corporal Gaddafi Arafat Zulkasisi (Men Athletic Physique 175cm height and above).

Sarawak Tribune managed to catch up with them on their initial reaction regarding the victory as the overall champion, preparations for both Mr Asia and Mr Malaysia, their main support system during this journey and the future.

On clinching the overall champion during the Mr Police and Mr Pahang 2024, Faizal revealed that while they (the Sarawak Police contingent team) are happy for winning the competition, it was truly an unexpected moment for the team itself.

“Mainly because there are a lot of other police contingents across the country who have their strong athletes competing during the competition.

“That is why from the moment we found out that we were overall champion, it was truly a surprising moment for us.”

He then stated that the team came to the competition and would just do their absolute best.

“Aside from the teammates, family and friends, our other support system is none other than Sarawak Police Commissioner Datuk Mancha Ata.

“He provided us with moral support and we are truly thankful for his backing throughout the championship.”

For the team, preparations for the championships (Mr Police and Mr Pahang, Mr Malaysia and Mr Asia) begun since early this year.

Faizal. Photo by Muhammad Izzan Amani.

Gaddafi. Photo by Muhammad Izzan Amani.

The trophy and medal of Mr Police and Mr Pahang 2024. Photo by Muhammad Izzan Amani.

For Al Badrul himself, among his preparation for the Mr Malaysia was participating in the recent Mr Kuching 2024.

“Mr Kuching 2024 has taught me a few things, especially in making me comfortable on stage.

“From there, I was able to do the same during the Mr Police and I won bronze medal for the Male Athletic Physique category.”

Joseph then stated other preparations include intense strength training.

“Though we train separately, we do keep each other updated on our progress so that we all can help on ways we can improve our physical body.”

At the same time, Faizal mentioned that their budget for the preparations is somewhere between RM1,500 and RM2,000.

“And that is only for the food, not including other supplements such as protein powder. But if we want to include it as well, that would be around RM3,000 to RM4,000.

“All of that came from our own expenses and not sponsored, though we did received a little bit of financial support from some of our close friends and family.

Joseph. Photo by Muhammad Izzan Amani.

Al Badrul. Photo by Muhammad Izzan Amani.

“The other financial sources that we got are also from the competition that we participate, with the prize money that we got.”

Considering that this is the first time for all them participating in Mr Malaysia & Mr Asia, the team members admit that there is excitement and nervousness building inside of them.

Especially for both Faizal and Joseph, participating in Mr Asia which is one of the biggest bodybuilding competitions in Asia for the first time meant a lot to them.

“Happy? Yes. Excited? Absolutely. Nervous? Yes. Because not only this is our first time, we will also be representing our country internationally, competing against athletes from countries such as Maldives, India, Korea and China.

“That being said, the people’s expectation is so much higher towards both of us, and we want to do as best as we can for the country and for the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM),” said Faizal.

Same goes for Al Badrul and Gaddafi who will be competing in Mr Malaysia, noting that the high expectation is there, but at the same time proud in representing Sarawak for the bodybuilding competition.

“For me, Mr Malaysia has always been my aim ever since last year and now that I’m finally going to compete, of course I feel nervous.

“Not only that, the pressure is there for all of us to do as best as we can, and I hope I could make the people proud,” said Al Badrul.

Though the bodybuilding industry in Sarawak has come a long way and still growing, one of the hope that the team expresses is for more bodybuilding competitions.

“Because we would like to see more bodybuilding athletes being produced through such competitions, especially among the state’s contingent.

“And we want to see them represent not only Sarawak, but also Malaysia at international level.

“Even among the police community, we would organise our own bodybuilding championship because it is quite rare to see police officers participating in bodybuilding. And through bodybuilding also, we are able to uplift more the name and the PDRM image,” said Gaddafi.

On another note, Joseph stated regardless of what type of sports people want to participate, the level of their health (physical and mental) must be their number one priority.

“Much like us right, no matter how great we look on the outside, but if we did not also prepare ourselves mentally and spiritually for such competition, then all those hard work would be for nothing,” he said.

Gaddafi stated that when it comes to bodybuilding, the most important thing is the passion behind it, with their aspiration of training future bodybuilders.

“At the moment, we are also training those that will be participating in the bodybuilding competition.

“And we will continue doing it. The passion and the interest must be there, even if the journey of it is not easy, as long as you have the drive for it, it should be alright for you,” he said.

For the record, Mr Malaysia will be held in Johor Bharu from Aug 2 to 5, while Mr Asia will be held from Aug 6 to 13 in Batam City, Riau Province, Indonesia.