SINGAPORE: Sabahan muscleman Justin Joel clinched a gold medal at the 2022 Association of Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Singapore (ABPS) Invitational Singapore-Malaysia-Indonesia, recently.
The 40-year-old fitness coach came out on top in the Athletic Physique Open event, beating fellow countryman Alfie Khan Abdul Aziz Khan and Singapore’s Marvin Tan Jose, despite having only a month to prepare for the competition.
The win was significantly memorable for Justin, who hails from Tuaran, in that the ABPS invitational was his first international outing throughout his seven years in bodybuilding.
“The invitation from the ABPS was sent to the MBBF (Malaysian Bodybuilding Federation) in early October and by the time I was notified to represent Malaysia in the competition, I had only a month to prepare.
“I guess I did all things right. Nonetheless, I feel blessed and happy to have performed rather well in my first international competition,” said Justin who is currently based in Ipoh, Perak.
Joel made his bodybuilding debut in 2017, becoming Mr Perak’s ‘New Talent’ champion that year.
His recent achievement, apart from the Singapore outing, was in Mr Sabah 2022 where he was crowned the Athletic Physique winner.
The hosting of the ABPS Invitational was sanctioned by Asian Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Federation (ABPF) and World Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Federation (MBPF).