LAHORE: Hafiz Khalid Malik of Body Zone Club, Lahore won the Mr Punjab bodybuilding title here at a local hotel on Friday night.

Mohammad Ahmad, also of Body Zone Club, clinched the title of Men Physique. Malik Wasim Akram of Sahiwal won the senior category, while Zain Javed, also of Sahiwal, claimed the junior category title. Abdul Waheed earned the grand master title.

Overall winner Hafiz Khalid said it was the first time that he participated in any event in Pakistan, adding he had been representing Pakistan in the World Musclemania contests, which are popular in the US.

“Last time I took fifth position in the Musclemania event held in Florida,” he added.

Khalid termed the contest held in Lahore as tough and thanked God for his victory in his first appearance on home soil.

“Now my next target is to win the Mr Pakistan event which is being held in Karachi next month,” he said.

Meanwhile, Khalid said Pakistan had considerable talent in bodybuilding and the country could earn major inter­national titles in it with due support of the government.

Speaking on the occasion, Punjab Bodybuilding Association secretary Jan Mohammad said around 150 muscle men from across Punjab took part in the competition. He said due to Covid-19 situation it was not easy to hold the event but as the national championship was being held in Karachi next month the Lahore contest was necessary to pick the best team to represent the province at the national event.

It may be mentioned here that the Punjab government had banned all sports activities in the province till March 28 due to Covid-19. However, it gave special permission to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to hold a seven-day training camp of the national team which on Friday left for the twin tour of South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Published in Dawn, March 28th, 2021