Imagine preparing for an international competition, only to have your original model pull out at the last minute. That was the unexpected challenge faced by 27-year-old Malaysian massage therapist Muhamad Qaizil Haiqil Abdul Jalak, who had to find a replacement weighing around 130kg and complete his demonstration within just 30 minutes.
Rather than letting the situation derail him, the Johor-born participant adapted quickly and delivered a performance that impressed the judges at the Oceania Massage Championship 2026 in Sydney, Australia. Competing online after visa issues prevented him from travelling, he clinched the Asian Massage category title and finished second in the overall rankings.
From teaching religious studies to mastering massage therapy
Qaizil Haiqil’s journey into the profession began after he left his job as a religious school teacher in Semenyih, Selangor, where he had worked for around four years. Although massage therapy had interested him for a long time, he only decided to pursue it seriously after completing his minor pilgrimage in 2024. He travelled to Penang for his first two-day massage course before continuing to attend other training programmes to develop his techniques. By last year, he had begun testing his abilities in competitions and has since participated in approximately seven international events. His latest achievement came at the Oceania Massage Championship, held in Sydney from October 9 to 11. The competition presented several obstacles, beginning with visa complications that threatened to keep him out of the event altogether before organisers offered him the option of competing online.
The missing model on competition day added another layer of pressure, but Qaizil Haiqil still managed to complete the demonstration within the allotted time. His double achievement marked a significant milestone in his professional journey and highlighted the ability of Malaysian therapists to compete internationally.
Setting his sights on another international competition
Despite the recognition, Qaizil Haiqil sees the win as motivation to keep improving rather than a reason to stop learning. He believes there is still much to gain from experienced practitioners, both in technical skills and professional knowledge. He also sees massage therapy as a way to help people manage physical discomfort, including joint pain, beyond its role as a specialised profession.
His next challenge is already on the horizon. Qaizil Haiqil and the Malaysia Therapist Team are expected to head to Singapore next month for another international competition, where he hopes the team can deliver strong performances and represent Malaysia proudly.
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