Sabah lifts overall bodybuilding title

Mohammed Sabah picked up the overall winners trophy and cash prize of BD200 in the sixth National Day Body Rock Bodybuilding Championship organised by Bahrain Weightlifting and Bodybuilding Association (BWBA) in front of a packed house at the Juffair Dome.

The event was held under the patronage of Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, son of His Majesty King Hamad.

More than 40 bodybuilders from clubs affiliated to the BWBA and gymnasiums around the Kingdom participated in eight different categories.

One of the highlights of the show was the appearance of 1998 world amateur champion Mustafa Hassannein from Jordan.

Bahrain's Zuhair Assiri, aged 40, also made a special appearance as guest poser. Assiri, who started competing since the age of 19, has made a comeback after being inactive for more than two years.

"I was influenced by seeing Arnold Schwarznegger in magazines, liked what I saw and wanted to look and do the same thing as well as a way to get fit," said Assiri.

He has represented Bahrain in various GCC, Arab, Asian and Irish championships winning titles along the way after starting in the 70kg category and moving up to 90kg. "I'm making a comeback because I want to encourage other bodybuilders of my age to compete and try to organise a Masters competition next year," said Assiri.

Ghassan Al Gosaibi, the owner of Ghassan Gym in Budaiya, was pleased with the performance of his bodybuilders who competed as a combined team from both Al Gosaibi and Ghassan's gyms.

Attending the event were His Majesty King Hamad's sons Shaikh Nasser and Shaikh Khalid, International Bodybuilding Federation vice-president Dr Adel Faheem, BWBA president Shaikh Hamad bin Abdulla Al Khalifa and vice-president Shaikh Salman bin Hamad bin Abdulla Al Khalifa.