KUALA LUMPUR – National bodybuilding icon Datuk Mohd Syarul Azman Mahen Abdullah, commonly known as Mike Mahen, was crowned Sportsman of the Year at the National Sports Awards 2023, held at the National Sports Council Complex in Bukit Jalil last night.
The 51-year-old, who boasts six world championships and announced his retirement from bodybuilding in March, claimed his inaugural award after being nominated five times in the previous editions.
After 26 years of flexing his muscles, Mahen, who was recently appointed chairman of the Malaysia Body Building Federation, said he hopes this recognition will inspire him to produce more national bodybuilding champions in the years to come.
“It never crossed my mind that I would win this award when I was young. I thought this was something I could never achieve. When I was nominated for the award for the first time in 2016, I felt it was a recognition in itself.
“Only after getting nominated the next few times did I start to think, ‘Why not win it one day?’ I worked extra hard to become a dominant force in the sport and to finally win the award. I really don’t know how to describe my happiness.
“I can now say that, as an athlete, my career is complete. This win also proves that athletes from less popular sports like bodybuilding can be world champions and win the national award one day.
“I hope this win can inspire more Malaysian athletes to become world champions,” said Mahen after his award ceremony.
Mahen, who also ventured into coaching in March, reached another milestone in the sport by guiding Joseph Ladi to a gold medal in the up to 65kg category at the Southeast Asian Bodybuilding & Physique Sports Championships last month.
“It’s another special moment for me. It was my first time being a coach, and my student won the gold medal in his debut.
“He’s a great talent, and I hope I can help him become a world champion,” he added.
Mahen surpassed four other candidates – equestrian athlete and Hangzhou Asian Games gold medalist Mohd Qabil Ambak Mahamad Fathil, Asian Games gold medalist Ng Eain Yow (squash), Muhammad Arif Afifuddin Ab Malek (karate), and Muhammad Rafiq Ismail (tenpin bowling).
Meanwhile, national bowling athlete Natasha Mohamed Roslan was the recipient of the Sportswoman of the Year award for her remarkable achievement at the World Championships in Kuwait last October, ending the nation’s 12-year world champion drought.
The 28-year-old triumphed against Asian Games double gold squash medalist S. Sivasangari, muay thai world champion Nur Amisha Azrilrizal, Asian lawn bowls champion Nurul Alyani Jamil, and Asian Games gold-winning sailor Nur Syazrin Mohd Latif.
Natasha became the sixth female bowler to receive the highest sports recognition in the country after Shirley Chow (1979), Lydia Kwah (1990), Lisa Kwan (1991, 1993), Sharon Low (1995), and Shalin Zulkifli (1994, 1996, 1997, 2001, and 2002).
“I never thought I would be the winner, as there were some top names on the list like Sivasangari and the Olympic sailor Syazrin.
“It’s the biggest national recognition for an athlete and also for bowling, and I dedicate this award to my role model and coach Shalin Zulkifli,” said Natasha when met after the ceremony.
World record holder and world champion powerlifter Bonnie Bunyau Gustin bagged his second Paralympic Sportsman of the Year award in three years after overcoming a stiff challenge from Ziyad Zolkefli (shot put), Abdul Latif Romly (long jump), Ammar Aiman Nor Azmi (400m hurdles), and Nur Syaiful Zulkafli (swimming).
Para track cyclists Nur Suraiya Zamri and Farina Shawati Mohd Adnan won the Paralympic Sportswoman of the Year award.
The sportsman and sportswoman, as well as the Paralympic sportsman and sportswoman award winners, each walked away with RM20,000, a trophy, and a certificate presented by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. – June 14, 2024