42 Nepali bodybuilders, including eight women athletes to compete in 26 out of 45 events
KATHMANDU, AUGUST 23
The Nepal Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation (NBBFF) is hosting the 55th Asian Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Championship in Kathmandu next month.
The Asian championship, which is being hosted in Nepal for the first time, features a total of 45 events - 28 men's, 16 women's and one mixed, informed NBBFF President Rajesh Babu Shrestha at a press meet today. "The Asian Bodybuilding Federation will run the championship and we will facilitate them in logistics and other aspects," added Shrestha, who is also the vice-president of the ABBF.
Bodybuilders from at least 25 nations will come to Nepal to participate in the championship. According to NBBFF Secretary Dinesh Rajbhandari, a total of 42 Nepali bodybuilders including eight women athletes will take part in the 26 events of the championship. "We need to meet international criteria to participate in the championship and we were not able to take part in 19 other events," he said. "The selected players are undergoing rigorous training and we are expecting good results from them," said Rajbhandari.
The best players of the Mr Himalaya held two months ago have been picked up for the championship, while the NBBFF has also invited a couple of Nepali bodybuilders from abroad in the team. The ABBF will also select Mr Asia from the championship. "The winners of the 10 weight categories will compete for the Mr Asia title," he said. Nepali bodybuilders have take part in seven out of 10 categories and they will be in the race for Mr Asia if they finish first in their respective weight categories.
The NBBFF has roped in Manakamana Cable Car as the main sponsor of the championship, while the National Sports Council, Nepal Tourism Board, Everest Bank, Nepal Investment Bank Mega Bank, Mahalaxmi Development Bank, Panchakanya Group, KTM CITY, Siddhartha Premium Insurance, Sagarmatha Lumbini Insurance, Shikhar Insurance and CFS Remit are the co-sponsors and partners.
Apart from the championship, the NBBFF will also host the elective general assembly of the Asian body. As per the schedule released by the NBB- FF, the players and officials will arrive Kathmandu on September 1, while the managers' meeting, judges' meeting, doping seminar and ABBF Congress will be held on September 2.
Likewise, the weighing and measurement of the participants along with age verification will be held on September 3. The annual general meeting and elections of the ABBF is also slated for the same day. "I am a sitting vice-president of the Asian body and the NBBFF will definitely have its stake in the elections,"he added.
The championship will begin on the fourth day with a grand opening ceremony at Yak and Yeti Hotel. A total of 16 events will be finalised on the first day of the championship in which 14 Nepali bodybuilders are scheduled to compete in eight events. Another 20 events will be held on September 5, in which 24 Nepali players will compete in 17 events, while the remaining four events will be organised the following day. Five Nepali players will compete in four events on the final day. The organisers will also announce top three teams of the championship based on their medal counts.
A version of this article appears in the print on August 24, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
