Former National Bodybuilder Samsul Mat Juah Praises ISN, YAKEB Support For Athletes

MELAKA, June 17 (Bernama) -- Former national bodybuilder Samsul Mat Juah, 59, believes current athletes across various sports are fortunate to receive comprehensive monitoring and support from the National Sports Institute (ISN), especially in terms of technical and professional assistance.

Samsul, who began his bodybuilding journey in 1995, said things were very different during his active years when he had to focus solely on training without any technical or professional backing.

“There were plenty of coaches in Malaysia back then, but no consultants, particularly in bodybuilding. These consultants play a crucial role in helping reduce the risk of injury during training — just like what ISN does now.

“Overtraining without proper tactical planning doesn’t just affect health, but it also hampers performance,” he told reporters when met during the ‘Visit & Treat’ programme by the YAKEB Prihatin Squad at Ujong Pasir here today.

The programme, held at the home of the late football legend Robert Choe Kim Chwee, was attended by Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Adam Adli Abdul Halim and National Athletes Welfare Foundation (YAKEB) chairman Datuk Ahmad Shapawi Ismail.

Samsul said his time in bodybuilding saw some of the best moments of his life, especially during the 1980s, including representing Malaysia at the 2000 Asian Championship in Manila and the 2002 Commonwealth Bodybuilding Championship in New Delhi, competing in the 80 to 85 kilogramme category.

However, a serious spinal injury that took a long time to heal eventually forced the Melaka-born athlete to retire in 2011, ending his aspirations for further glory in the sport.

Now residing in Bukit Baru, Samsul expressed his gratitude for the continued support he receives from YAKEB, even long after retiring from the sport.

“Alhamdulillah, YAKEB has really helped me. They covered nearly RM40,000 for my kidney stone surgery and also provide me with a monthly financial assistance of RM300,” said Samsul, who is currently undergoing dialysis and suffering from several chronic conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, gout, gastritis, and asthma.

Meanwhile, the late Choe’s eldest son, Fahrian Cho Yoon Chhing, 60, expressed his appreciation for YAKEB’s gesture in remembering his father’s contributions as a former national team striker who was active in the 1950s and 1960s.

“On behalf of our family, I’m very grateful to YAKEB for their concern, even though my father had long left the national team and passed away earlier this year. It truly shows the Ministry of Youth and Sports’ (KBS) commitment to honouring athletes who have contributed significantly to national sports,” he said.

During the programme, Adam Adli presented bereavement assistance to Choe’s widow, Alice Cho Yoon Chhing (rpt: Chhing), and also extended aid to Samsul and former national silat athlete Wardi Salim.

-- BERNAMA