KUALA LUMPUR: The number 666, seen by some people as a symbol of evil, holds a different significance for bodybuilder Datuk Syarul Azman Mahen Abdullah who sees it as a symbol of luck.
Syarul was finally named Sportsman of the Year yesterday after being nominated six times. He has also been crowned World and Asian champion six times each.
A jubilant Syarul said it is a great honour for him to win the highest recognition for an athlete in Malaysia, and he can finally be content with this achievement.
The former Kuala Lumpur footballer, who had to quit the sport due to a serious knee injury at the age of 19, picked up bodybuilding as a replacement.
He eventually became an icon in the sport and always imagined that he would one day win the National Sportsman Award.
"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," said Syarul.
"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."
Syarul, who competes in the men's athletic physique (up to 167cm), won his world titles in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, and last year. He also won the Asian title six times in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2023.
The 51-year-old, who started 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," added Syarul.