Nepal finish as runners-up with three gold, seven silver and six bronze medals

Kathmandu, July 20

Indian bodybuilder Ravinder Kumar Malik won the overall title, while Nepal finished as runners-up behind Afghanistan in the 12th South Asian Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Championship here today.

Malik was crowned the overall champion from among the winners of the seven weight categories. Malik had made it to the overall competition after winning the 80kg section title, finishing ahead of Afghanistan’s Mohammad Asif Sakhi and Nepal’s Milan Sijapati in the three-man field.

Nepal added two gold medals in their kitty to finish second in the team championship with 445 points. Afghanistan claimed top position with 535 points, while India were third with 380. Afghanistan won a total of 15 medals that included six gold, four silver and five bronze. Nepal bagged three gold, seven silver and six bronze medals, while India claimed four gold, five silver and one bronze.

Maldives won three gold and two bronze medals, while Pakistan bagged one gold and two each silver and bronze medals. Bhutan were at the bottom with a bronze medal.

A total of 130 bodybuilders and officials took part in the championship organised by South Asian Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Federation under the auspices of Nepal Bodybuilding and Fitness Association.

On the second and final day of the championship, Sefatullah Hafizi of Afghanistan won the 75kg section gold finishing ahead of India’s Dharmendra Kumar and Nepal’s Ashok Maharjan.

Indian bodybuilder Rishikanta Singh Laitonjam claimed 85kg section gold, while Afghanistan duo Waheedullah Azimi and Abdul Saboor Sahak came second and third respectively.

Gulajan Omar added another gold medal for Afghanistan when he won the 90kg weight category title beating Pakistani duo Muhammad Syed and Faheem Abbas, while Afghan bodybuilder Ahmad Mohammadi claimed the above-90kg section title finishing ahead of India’s Vinay Kumar and Syed Fazal Elahi of Pakistan. Also, Ahmed Mahil Saeed of Maldives was the champion in open category, whereas Rishi Rajesh Athreya of India came second and Nepal’s Krishna Maharjan was third.

Ahmed Sikandar Zada of Afghanistan, Nishant Man Pradhan of Nepal and Ahmed Fazeel of Maldives won top three spots respectively in the upto-167cm section of men’s athletic physique category.

Nepal’s Naresh Munjikar won gold medal in over- 167cm category, finishing ahead of Nakul Kaushal of India and Fathuhulla Mohammad of Maldives.

Azneen Rashad of Maldives came first in upto-170cm category under men’s sports physique, while Nepal’s Pramod Rai and Afghanistan’s Hamidullah Khushdil were second and third respectively. Pakistan’s Usman Umar won gold in over-170cm finishing ahead of India’s Shinu Chova and Tashi Tshokey.

Nepal claimed top two spots in women’s model physique section with Mallika Shakya winning the gold medal. Pooja Shrestha came second, while India’s Nishrin Hitesh Parikh was third.