KUALA LUMPUR: Buda Anchah claimed two gold medals while teammate Syarul Azman Mahen Abdullah settled for bronze at the Asian Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Championships in the Maldives yesterday.
Buda's chiselled physique impressed the judges the most, allowing him to claim victory in the men's Under-65kg class ahead of India's Bichitra Nayak and Vietnam's Tran Bao Quoc who settled for silver and bronze respectively.
He also triumphed in the Under-80kg men's masters (50-60 years) class, denying Indian duo Suresh Kumar and Saravanan Hariram who were placed second and third.
In May, Buda, 50, claimed the silver in his category at the Hanoi Sea Games.
Things, however, did not go to script for Syarul who was eying a sixth consecutive Asian title. Instead, it was Syarul's teammate Syed Faizal Syed Ali who was the best-placed Malaysian in the men's athletic physique Under- 167cm class, coming in second behind Cambodia's Nora Chhng.
Syarul was nevertheless content with the bronze.
"Considering that this is the first time we are competing in the Asian championships in three years (due to Covid), I am still happy with the bronze," said Syarul.
"I will focus on improving in certain areas. I hope to do well at the World Championships in Phuket at the end of the year."
Malaysia also claimed a silver medal through Dr Malvern Abdullah in the men's bodybuilding Under-60kg class.