Sazali out to prove age is no barrier to win 11th Mr Universe title

Ten times Mr Universe title winner Sazali Abd Samad who was crowned National Sportsman of the Year last night is out to prove that age will not be a barrier in his quest for a 11th Mr Universe title.

Sazali, 47, crowned 2014 Sportsman of the Year for the fourth time said he would work extra hard to lay a claim for his 11th Mr Universe title at the World Championship in Bangkok, Thailand from Nov 15-21.

Sazali, a sub-inspector in the police force had also won the award in 2006, 2010 and 2013, thus giving bodybuilding a podium finish yet again since Datuk Malek Noor set the tone by winning the award in 1986.

The cop is no stranger to titles since he has won the Mr Universe title a record 10 times, the last being the World Body Building Championship in Mumbai, India, last December.

Apart from winning the Mr Universe title, the Batu Pahat born bodybuilder also showed his class at the Asian Bodybuilding and Physique Championships in Macau last year.

"This award will motivate me to continue working hard for success. This success did not come the easy way since hard work, a high level of commitment, discipline and physical condition is needed," he had said after receiving his title from Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin yesterday.

"I will do my best with my ability and the support from the National Sports Council and the National Sports Institute."

Sazali has won the Mr Universe title in 2000, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010,2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 plus the Mr Asia title eight times, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2004, 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2014.

The sub-inspector will also be hoping to win his fifth gold medal at the World Police and Fire Games in Virginia, United States from June 26 to July 5, after having bagged gold medals in 1995, 2003, 2005 and 2007.