BY Fadhil Yunus

Local Strongman athlete Muhammad Waiz bin Haji Daud did his country proud after winning the gold medal in the open pro category of the Persatuan Orang Kuat Seluruh Indonesia (POKSI) Independence Main Games at the Decathlon Pondok Indah in Jakarta, Indonesia last weekend.

The country’s rising talent accumulated a combined score of 28 points ahead of runners-up Hong Kong’s Ian Nam and Russia’s Tabris who managed 26 and 25 points.

Muhammad Waiz’s best round came in the car frame deadlift after posting a perfect score of 10 points and a haul of nine points each in the overhead medley and truck pull catapulted him to the top of the list.

The 23-year-old said, “Alhamdullillah with the trust in Allah the Almighty and the hard work in training, I won the open pro category.”

He added, “It is an honour to be invited by the Strongman committee from Indonesia to join their international Indonesia Strongman.”

He also thanked his father who has been providing endless support throughout his Strongman career as well as his coach Safwan Sazuwan bin Awang Ali and brother Muhd Hanis.

Organised by POKSI, the international event was billed as the biggest Strongman event in Southeast Asia.

-- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin