Shabab crowned champions

Shabab (Youth) bodybuilders were crowned champions of the Baghdad youth clubs competition, the U-21 event held recently at Sulaikh Indoor Hall, al-Ba’th al- Riyadhi Sports daily reported.

Forty-four bodybuilders representing seven clubs took part in the championship after which Shabab collected 85 points to head the table. Ta’awin came in second on 78 points, two points ahead of A’dhamiya.

The participating weights witnessed tough rivalry with Hussein Rkhayis of Shabab introducing top display in the 60kg category while the 65kg weight went to Haider Abdul Aziz of Ta’awin.

Talaba celebrated the 70kg event’s top seat while the 75kg contest went to Shabab’s Radhi Naji. A’dhamiya was awarded the 80kg competition thanks to their Haider Mizhir. A’dhamiya bodybuilders returned back to the winning podium when their Ali Jebbar won the 85kg category. Serhan Khudheir of Ta’awintook the 85kg weight.

Earlier, Iraqi senior and young bodybuilders joined an open contest at Palestine Indoor Hall after which the domestic game’s governing body will name the best before joining an intensive training camp to prepare for their upcoming appearance at the Arab Championship due in Morocco in April.

Sources at the Iraqi federation said that a major event will be held here on Match 14 to help all Iraqi champions to participate before announcing the final line-up for the said Arab tournament.

Iraqi bodybuilders are rated among on the Arab and Asian arenas. Early last November, Yousif Ahmed clinched sixth position at the World Bodybuilding Championship held in Cairo, Egypt. Yousif joined the 65kg competition.

Most recently, Iraqi musclemen were crowned champions of the 10^th Arab Bodybuilding championship, the 6^th Youth Championship, and the 2^nd Masters Championship contested here in Baghdad.

At Saddam Hussein Sports Indoor Hall, Iraqi bodybuilders introduced distinguished performances that enabled them to take first position.

Iraqi musclemen came on top in the youngsters' category of the teams’ competitions followed by Syria and Yemen respectively.

Iraqi Masters added another record to the country's basket when they celebrated the seniors’ title. Syria and Palestine came second and third respectively.

In the youth and masters categories individual competition, Iraqi musclemen were the best winning the 70kg, 80kg, over 80kg, and the free weight for the Masters.

Bodybuilders from Palestine, Jordan, Syria, Yemen, Sudan, Libya, Algeria, Tunisia, and hosts Iraq took part in the championship.

Iraqi bodybuilders won last year's 5^th Arab Youth Championship held in Egypt when Ala' Hlayel took the gold medal of the 70kg contest, Hussein Jum'a snatched the silver and Firas Jerjis the bronze medal.