Pakistan flexes its muscles, secures medals at European Bodybuilding Championship

BUDAPEST: Pakistani bodybuilders bagged two medals – silver and bronze – at the third European Bodybuilding Championship in Budapest, Hungary on Saturday.

Bodybuilder Arsalan Baig earned the silver medal in the Sports Physique category, while Shehzad Qureshi’s secured himself the bronze in the Bodybuilding category.

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The General Secretary of the Pakistan Bodybuilding Federation (PBBF) congratulated the bodybuilders as well. While, the Pakistani ambassador to Hungary also offered words of encouragement.

The third European Bodybuilding Championship was organised by the Hungarian Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Federation (HBPSF). The championship was funded by the the Hungarian government.

Pakistani bodybuilders left for Hungary to attend the tournament on Thursday as the event was to be held on Saturday.

Pakistani bodybuilder previously have performed well in other bodybuilding tournaments, including events organised by the World Bodybuilding and Physique Federation (WBPF), Asian Bodybuilding and Physique Federation (ABBF), and the South Asian Bodybuilding and Physique Federation (SABBF).

Bodybuilding as a sport comprises activities focusing on gradual resistance exercises to develop muscles. Its primary goal is to enhance aesthetics. Bodybuilders display their physique on stage and undergo evaluation based on factors like muscle mass and proportion.

Preparation involves intense training and fat reduction, often supplemented with methods such as carb loading and dehydration for optimal muscle definition.

The sport requires significant dedication for noticeable progress, with newcomers potentially gaining 4-8 kilograms of muscle annually. Some individuals turn to anabolic steroids for accelerated growth, despite the associated health risks and competition regulations.

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Bodybuilding has ancient origins but gained prominence in the late 19th century. The first modern bodybuilding competition was held in 1901, marking its global ascent.

Among the most renowned bodybuilders is Austrian Arnold Schwarzenegger.