KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 2 (Bernama) — Four-time Mr Universe Sazali Abd Samad is back in the gymnasium for intensive training in preparation for the upcoming Mr Universe bodybuilding championship in Manama, Bahrain from Nov 2-7.

Sazali, 41, competing in the 70kg category for the second time, is allocating four to five hours of training a day to get back to ideal shape and weight of between 67 and 68kg.

“During the fasting month, I trained for only two hours a day just to maintain the muscle tones. My body weight at the moment is about 72kg,” he told Bernama.

He also said that during the fasting month his training was limited due to injury to his left wrist.

“It’s an old injury but I’ve fully recovered from it and certified fit by the doctors at the National Sports Council,” said Sazali, who emerged the runner-up in the 70kg category at The Arnold Amateur IFBB International Bodybuilding, Fitness and Figure Championships in Ohio, United States.

The upcoming meet in Bahrain would be his only other championship this year.

He said that the lack of championships forced him to double up his training to keep in shape.

Sazali won the Mr Universe title in the bantamweight category (65kg) in Melaka in 2000, Moscow (2004) and Ostrava, Czech Republic (2006) before competing in the lightweight category (70kg) last year.

He won his fourth Mr Universe title in Jaeju, South Korea last February.

On the possibility of him contesting in the heavier category, Sazali said this would not be possible as sports science specialists whom he met had advised against it.

“At my height of 165cm, the ideal category will be the 70kg,” he said.