Kelvin Amachree, Neziru Adam and Wisdom Atim, have emerged as winners in different categories of the International Fitness and Bodybuilding Federation (IFBB) Championship in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event which began on Friday ended on Sunday with no fewer than 20 contestants from across the country participating in the championship.
Amachree emerged as the outstanding winner of the Men’s Bodybuilding Open Category ahead of Edmund Agu (2nd), Patrick Rowland (3rd) and Melody Ogah (4th) to win the IFBB Elite Pro Card on home soil.
An elated Amachree told NAN that he felt so excited to have won, adding that it was a target he had always hoped to achieve on the big stage.
“My intention was to travel out to take part in one of these IFBB sanctioned events.
“But I am so happy to see it happening live in my country and the feeling of winning is indescribable,” he said.
Also, Adam came tops in the Men’s Classic Physique Open Category, while Sonia Muslim took the silver medal, with Ikenna Emmanuel settling for bronze.
Adam, who also expressed joy over his victory said he had been competing for a long time and had never achieved success.
“I have been preparing for this event for over a year. I even competed in Ghana but fell below my expectations.
“Finally, I won my pro card and can now compete with the pros,” he said.
Joshua Williams, Gideon Pam and Joel Umoh finished 4th, 5th and 6th respectively in the category.
In the Men’s Physique Open Category, Atim won gold, while King Obamma took silver and Augustine Ezekwelu settled for the bronze medal.
Soye Elekima, President of ABBFN, said the athletes surpassed his expectations, adding that their performance was an improvement from the inaugural edition.
“I have experienced an improvement in bodybuilding sports tonight because the athletes did exactly what was expected of them and even beyond that.
“Bodybuilding has a lot to do with the strentions, definitions, proportions, thickness and the vascularity, and that’s exactly what I am looking for.
“Also, is the overall conditioning which is very key, and I saw all of that. The athletes were also spot on in their movement and routines which is also important and nice.
“This is because they give what we refer to as the ‘rhythmical movement’ with regards to the heart beat that corresponds with the movement of the anatomy,” he said
Victor Hernandez, an IBBF official from Spain and the Chief Judge of the event, said the performance of the contestants showed that Nigeria had an abundance of talents.
“Nigeria really boasts of good quality competitors who can go on to challenge the best in the world.
“The standard of the event was really high and produced three winners and three pro cards who can represent Nigeria in the pro league,” he said.(NAN)
