Sabah Sets Record with Highest Participation at Mr Borneo 2025
- nabalunews
- Dec 16, 2025
- 2 min read
16 December 2025
PENAMPANG: The Mr Borneo 2025 Bodybuilding and Physique Championship was successfully held at Dewan Pusat Kebudayaan Penampang, attracting a record-breaking 150 athletes. Competitors hailed from Sabah, Sarawak, Peninsular Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam and Labuan, alongside uniformed teams representing the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) and the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM), marking the highest participation in the event’s history.
The championship was officiated by Yang Berbahagia Tuan Adanan @ Adnan bin Atin, Deputy Secretary-General of the Ministry of Youth Development, Sports Advancement and Creative Economy.
President of the Sabah Bodybuilding Association (SBBA), Clarence Runggi, said this year’s edition introduced new categories such as First Timer and Physique Model, aimed at providing greater opportunities for young and novice athletes to gain competitive experience.
In the Men’s Body Smart (First Timer) category, Wong Sing Hui of Sarawak emerged champion, followed by Nathan Tan Chun (Sarawak) in second place and Hj Isa bin Hj Yunus (Brunei Darussalam) in third. Md Rizwan bin Md Yusof (Sabah) claimed victory in the Men’s Body Smart (Model) category, with Martin Madais and Abdul Rahman Lee, both from Sabah, finishing second and third respectively.
For the Men’s Master Bodybuilding (45 years and above) category, Redy bin Ondui of Sabah secured first place. Mohammad Asraf bin Hamza (Sabah) and Affan Affandy Sazali (Sabah) won the Men’s Sport Physique categories under and above 170 cm respectively. In the Men’s Bodybuilding division, Joseph Ladi (PDRM) triumphed in the under-70 kg category, while Muhammad Al-Akif bin Elias of Brunei Darussalam won the over-70 kg category.
In the women’s events, Alfrida Hatumena of Labuan won the Women’s Athletic Physique category, followed by Lily Nur Izzaty binti Ahmad (Sabah) and Cristy Reachel Josip (Sabah). Lily Nur Izzaty binti Ahmad later emerged champion in the Women’s Bodybuilding category, with Alfrida Hatumena placing second and Ivy K Yon (Sabah) finishing third.
The highlight of the championship saw Muhammad Al-Akif bin Elias (Brunei Darussalam) crowned Champion of Champions. Meanwhile, Ng Chin Soon (Sabah) and Ivy K Yon (Sabah) were awarded Best Poser in the Men’s and Women’s categories respectively.
Distinguished guests in attendance included Event Chairman Sdr Johny Said; main sponsor Mr Krishnakumar a/l Kalimuthu, owner of Enrich Bodybuilding Club, Kuala Lumpur; representatives from the Malaysian Bodybuilding Federation (MBBF); supplement sponsor BS Nutrition; and other invited dignitaries.
This year’s prize structure was further enhanced, with winners receiving certificates, trophies, medals, cash prizes and whey protein supplements as recognition and motivation.
Overall, Mr Borneo 2025 successfully met its objectives, demonstrating high levels of discipline, professionalism and sportsmanship, while further reinforcing Sabah’s status as a leading hub for bodybuilding in the Borneo region.
I like that they’re adding divisions that lower the barrier for first-timers, because not everyone has the time/money to prep for classic bodybuilding right away. With the Masters (45+) category also getting attention, it feels like the community is widening instead of just chasing one “ideal” look. Honestly, it’s a reminder that presentation matters a lot on stage — colors, tan, trunks, everything — which is why I went down a rabbit hole on choosing a soft summer color palette guide for my own wardrobe earlier this year. Would be interesting to hear how they’re educating new competitors on posing and stage prep as participation keeps growing.
The record participation is the part that jumps out to me — once a show gets that big, it starts shaping what “good” looks like for the region, especially for younger guys entering the new categories. Also interesting to see teams from PDRM and ATM; that kind of institutional involvement usually means the sport is getting more mainstream. Random aside: the “model” category name made me think of how aesthetics get judged in totally different contexts, like those fun ghibli ai generators people use for stylized portraits. Hopefully the organizers keep the beginner-friendly classes without letting the standards get messy.
150 athletes is huge for a regional show, and it’s cool they opened up “First Timer” and “Physique Model” so new lifters can actually get stage experience without jumping straight into the deep end. I’m curious how strict the judging criteria are across the different divisions, since it can really change what people prep for — kind of like how CaesarCipher forces you to be exact about formats when you’re converting things. Either way, Sabah pulling competitors from so many places feels like the scene is growing fast.
Congratulations to Sabah for hosting the Mr Borneo 2025 Championship with a record participation! It's inspiring to see so many athletes come together to celebrate bodybuilding. For more exciting projects, check out Kubogram.
It's impressive to see such high participation at the Mr Borneo 2025 Championship, showcasing talent from across the region. Events like this truly bring communities together. Check out this trees hate you demo for more inspiration!