2012 Asian Championships

by Andrew Michalak

2012 Asian Championships in Tashkent was a great event. First, it was the first IFBB international championships in this Central Asian country, emerged as an independent Republic of Uzbekistan in August 1991. The area of Uzbekistan is similar to Sweden, and population (nearly 30 million) close to Venezuela or Malaysia.
The history of human settlement there reaches 1000 years BC (Bukhara and Samarkand towns on the Silk Route) and then this land went through Persian, Mongol, Timurid and Russian empires. The famous Macedonian ruler Alexander the Great conquered this territories in 327 BC and married the local princess Roxana, being fascinated with her beauty, personal charm and shapely silhouette. So, beautiful and attractive women had already lived on this land as far back as 20 centuries ago! She could be a patron of the present Uzbek fitness girls.
Tashkent – the capital of Uzbekistan, was destroyed by a huge earthquake (7.5 on the Richter scale) in April 1966. Then rebuilt by international "battalions of fraternal nations” and has become a “model Soviet city” of wide shady streets, parks, immense plazas, fountains, monuments, and acres of apartment blocks. And this modern, elegant and clean Tashkent with its 2,2 million inhabitants welcomed the participants of the latest Asian Championships.
Uzbekistan Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation under the very efficient leadership of its President, Mr. Ulugbek Mahmudov, prepared a beautiful stage in the Turkiston Palace, with 25 national flags of the AFBF member countries composed in a circle on the center of the backstage banner. Very interesting concept!
IFBB President, assisted by Mr. Mahmudov, and dressed in the festive Sultan’s robes given only the very special guests, opened the Championships. The first row in the audience included Uzbekistan Deputy Minister of Culture and Sport Rashid Matkarimov, IFBB Vice-President Dr. Eng. Adel Fahim of Egypt, IFBB General Secretary William Tierney of United Kingdom, IFBB General Secretary Assistant Eng. Rauf Bunyataliev of Azerbaijan, Asian Federation Hon. General Secretary Sanjay More of India, IFBB Judges Committee Chairman Pawel Filleborn of Poland, IFBB Women’s Committee Chairperson Wanda Tierney of United Kingdom and many Presidents of the participating National Federations.
IFBB delegation was invited to the Uzbekistan Olympic Committee [UzOC] Headquarter where they were welcomed by the Uzbekistan Minister of Culture and Sport Mr. Jasur Akramov and UzOC President Mr. Malik Babaev. The Ministry of Culture and Sport and the National Olympic Committee fully supported the organization of the IFBB Asian Championships in Tashkent.
20 sets of medals were distributed on the stage during the Sunday finals and 14 countries left Tashkent with medals in their bags. Men’s bodybuilding is still the most popular physique sport in Asia; however women’s fitness, bodyfitness and bodybuilding have become to play bigger and bigger role in the non-Muslim countries. Ten men’s bodybuilding categories were run, from 55 kg to over 100 kg. The 2012 Asian champions came from:

55 kg: Nergui KHURELBAATAR (Mongolia)
60 kg: Seung-Hoon LEE Korea)
65 kg: Sanjeewa KUMARA (Sri Lanka)
70 kg: Jae -Koon YOON (Korea)
75 kg: Hamad AL-SHATTI (Kuwait)
80 kg: Mohammed HUSSEIN (Iraq)
85 kg: Hossein SHIBANIKARKHANEH (Iran)
90 kg: Fouad Jasim SHAWI (Iraq)
100 kg: Peter BEZANTI (Palestine)
+100 kg: Jawad DURGHAM (Iraq)

These 10 champions then battled for the overall title. The most famous bodybuilder among them was the current World’s runner-up Hamad AL-SHATTI (Kuwait) but this time the Asian overall title went to someone new – the super heavyweight winner Jawad DURGHAM (Iraq). Iraq won three men’s bodybuilding gold medals, what is a clear evidence how big are the potentials of this raising after the long civil war country. Gold medals for smaller countries like Mongolia, Sri Lanka, Kuwait and Palestine show that bodybuilding and weight training popularity is spreading across the whole continent and to its all corners. Iran and Korea entered “the second row” bodybuilders and won many medals. It seems that their “armies” of top competitive bodybuilders are unlimited! Congratulations to Iranian Federation President Omit Amiri for winning the Best Team trophy!

There were three women’s bodybuilding classes with the following champions:

49 kg: Yamanouchi SATOKO (Japan)
52 kg: Naoko IMAMURA (Japan)
+52 kg: Irina SHELINGOVSKAYA (Kazakhstan)
With Irina SHELINGOVSKAYA (Kazakhstan) as the overall champion.

Two junior bodybuilding divisions, with the champions:

75 kg: Umid KULTOIER (Uzbekistan)
+75 kg: Mehrshad BORZOUEI (Iran)
With Mehrshad BORZOUEI (Iran) as the overall champion.

And two masters bodybuilding categories:

Over 50: Tae-Moon JEONG (Korea)
Over 60: Young-Jun LEE (Korea)

The fitness segment included:
Women’s fitness: Tatyana VOLKOVA (Kazakhstan)
Men’s fitness: Hesam SAFIRI (Iran)
Women’s bodyfitness 160 cm: Natalya ROCHSHURKINA (Kazakhstan)
Women’s bodyfitness +160 cm: Shizuka NAKAMURA (Japan)
Natalya ROCHSHURKINA (Kazakhstan) as the overall bodyfitness champion.

But the Asian geography in women’s physique sports is different as in most of the Islamic countries this sports don’t exists nowadays. East and Central Asia are the most powerful regions in women’s sports, so the majority of medals went to Kazakhstan, Japan and Korea, with promising perspective for Uzbekistan, Mongolia, Chinese Taipei and India!


The best teams at these Championships were:
1. Iran 119 points
2. Korea 70 points
3. Iraq 69 points
4. Kuwait 45 points
5. India 43 points
6. Oman 32 points

Pictures:
By the courtesy of the Uzbekistan Federation

OPENING CEREMONY



2012 Asian Championships: Parade of Nations.



IFBB President Dr. Rafael SANTONJA during his opening speech.



Dr. SANTONJA in a special Sultan’s robes presented to him by the Uzbekistan Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation [UzBBF] President Ulugbek MAHMUDOV (right).



Officials honoured during the opening ceremony (from L): UzBBF official Erkin KADIROV; AFBF Hon. General Secretary Sanjay MORE, Uzbekistan Deputy Minister of Culture and Sport Rashid MATKARIMOV, Dr. SANTONJA, Mr. MAHMUDOV, IFBB Vice-President Dr. Eng. Adel FAHIM, IFBB General Secretary Assistant Eng. Rauf BUNYATALIEV.



Medals and trophies awaiting for the winners.

OVERALL CHAMPIONS



Women’s bodyfitness overall winner: Natalya ROCHSHURKINA (Kazakhstan).



Women’s bodybuilding overall winner: Irina SHELINGOVSKAYA (Kazakhstan).


Women’s fitness winner: Tatyana VOLKOVA (Kazakhstan).



Men’s fitness winner: Hesam SAFIRI (Iran).



Men’s bodybuilding overall winner: Jawad DURGHAM (Iraq) accompanied by the IFBB President Dr. Rafael SANTONJA (right) and AFBF Hon. General Secretary Sanjay MORE (left).



Men’s bodybuilding overall winner: Jawad DURGHAM (Iraq).

MEN’S BODYBUILDING



55 kg category: 2012 Asian champion Nergui KHURELBAATAR (Mongolia).



60 kg category victory ceremony (from L): Sanjeev KUMAR (5th place); Hiroshi TSUGA (2nd place); Mr. Sanjay MORE, Seung-Hoon LEE (1st place); official, Fairuz AL MATANI (3rd place); official.



65 kg category victory ceremony (from L): official; Shahzad KHURRAM (6th place); Ki-Kwan SEOL (4th place); official; Ali KADOOM (2nd place); official; Sanjeewa KUMARA (1st place); official; Rezvan ALIEV (3rd place); Walid AL ALAWI (5th place).



70 kg category victory ceremony (from L): Masahiro SUE (6th place); Faisal AL MATANI (4th place); official; Mohammad ALI TAKAPOEI (2nd place); Mr. Sanjay MORE; Jae -Koon YOON (1st place); official; Parvesh KUMAR (3rd place); Muhammed ALMASRI (5th place).



70 kg category compulsory poses (from L): Faisal AL MATANI (4th place); Parvesh KUMAR (3rd place); Jae -Koon YOON (1st place); Muhammed ALMASRI (5th place); Masahiro SUE (6th place).




75 kg category medal winners (from L): Seyed ASHEGHABADI (2nd place); Hamad ALSHATTI (1st place); Young –Noh YOON (3rd place).



75 kg category compulsory poses (from L): Ali EID (6th place); AbduL MALIK (5th place); Hamad ALSHATTI (1st place); Young –Noh YOON (3rd place); Seyed ASHEGHABADI (2nd place); Alaa ALNAEB (4th place).



80 kg category victory ceremony (from L): Iranian Federation President Omid Amiri; Vaghefi SEYEDEHSAN (2nd place); Mr. MAHMUDOV; Hossein SHIBANIKARKHANEH (1st place); Dr. Rafael SANTONJA.



80 kg category compulsory poses (from L): Senthil KUMARAN (6th place); Arsham ESMAEILPOUR (2nd place); Borun YUMNAM (4th place); Mohammed HUSSEIN (1st place); Ahmed AL MASKARI (5th place); Jalaal ALRAYASHI (3rd place).



85 kg category compulsory poses (from L): Amit CHAUDHARY (4th place); Umid HUSANOV (6th place); Mohamed ALRASHED (5th place); Mohamed AKBAR (3rd place); Hossein SHIBANIKARKHANEH (1st place); Vaghefi SEYEDEHSAN (2nd place).



90 kg category victory ceremony (from L): Dea-Bong CHOI (6th place); official; Mahdi PIRSARANDIB (2nd place); Mr. Sanjay MORE; Fouad SHAWI (1st place); Dr. Rafael SANTONJA; Mohsen SHABANEE (3rd place); Eng. Rauf BUNYATALIYEV; Hasan WASSIM (5th place).



100 kg category victory ceremony (from L): Abbas PEISEPAR (4th place); Mr. Sanjay MORE; Asghar ABAEI (2nd place); Dr. Rafael SANTONJA; Peter BEZANTI (1st place); Palestine Federation President Nazeh ABU JAFFAR; Hashim HAITHAM (3rd place); Eng. Rauf BUNYATALIYEV.



100 kg winner Peter BEZANTI with the IFBB President Dr. Rafael SANTONJA (left) and Palestine Federation President Nazeh ABU JAFFAR.




100 kg category victory ceremony (from L): Khabibulla NIZAMOV (6th place); Mr. MAHMUDOV with his daughter; Milad MOGHADAM (2nd place); Mr. Sanjay MORE; Jawad DURGHAM (1st place); Dr. Rafael SANTONJA; Ahmed ALREFAEI (3rd place); Eng. Rauf BUNYATALIYEV; Innokentiy KONSTANTINOV (5th place).



Junior men’s up to 75 kg category compulsory poses (from L): Jonrid MAKHMADIYAROV (4th place); Samuel GRIGORYANTS (3rd place); Sang-Jun PARK (2nd place); Elior IKRAMOV (6th place); Umid KULTOIER (1st place); Khamid NIZAMOV (5th place).



Junior men’s up to 75 kg category victory ceremony (from L): official; Sang-Jun PARK (2nd place); Mr. MAHMUDOV; Umid KULTOIER (1st place); IFBB General Secretary William TIERNEY, Samuel GRIGORYANTS (3rd place); official.



Junior men’s up to 75 kg category champion Umid KULTOIER (Uzbekistan) with his Federation President Ulugbek MAHMUDOV (left) and IFBB General Secretary William TIERNEY (right).



Junior men’s over 75 kg category victory ceremony (from L): Danial AHOOEI (4th place); official; Joong-Hyoun PARK (2nd place); Mr. Sanjay MORE; Mehrshad BORZOUEI (1st place); Mr. William TIERNEY; Sergey SERECHSHEV (3rd place).



Junior men’s over 75 kg category champion Mehrshad BORZOUEI (Iran) with Mr. Sanjay MORE (left) and Mr. William TIERNEY (right).



Master men’s bodybuilding (from L): Young-Jun Lee (Korea); Kokubo Kazumi (Japan); Tae-Moon Jeong (Korea).


WOMEN’S CATEGORIES



Women’s fitness victory ceremony (from L): IFBB Judges Committee Chairman Pawel FILLEBORN; Yumi YAMASHITA (3rd place); Dr. Rafael SANTONJA; Tatyana VOLKOVA (1st place); Mr. Ulugbek MAHMUDOV; Deputy Minister of Culture and Sport Rashid MATKARIMOV; Elizaveta GURENKO (2nd place).



Women’s fitness quarter turns (from L): Yumi YAMASHITA (3rd place); Elizaveta GURENKO (2nd place); Tatyana VOLKOVA (1st place).



Women’s fitness runner-up Elizaveta GURENKO in her routine.



Women’s fitness bronze medal winner Yumi YAMASHITA in her routine.



Men’s fitness victory ceremony (from L): Mr. Pawel FILLEBORN; Mr. Ulugbek MAHMUDOV; Chuluunbaatar TSOGTBAATAR (2nd place); Dr. Rafael SANTONJA; Hesam SAFIRI (1st place); Deputy Minister Rashid MATKARIMOV.



Women’s bodybuilding up to 52 kg category victory ceremony (from L): Mr. Nazeh ABU JAFFAR; Yoonjeong BANG (2nd place); Mr. Ulugbek MAHMUDOV; Naoko IMAMURA (1st place); Dr. Rafael SANTONJA; Mamota Devi YUMNAM (3rd place).



Women’s bodybuilding up to 49 kg category victory ceremony (from L): Mr. Ulugbek MAHMUDOV; Valentina TARASSOVA (2nd place); Mr. William TIERNEY; Yamanouchi SATOKO (1st place); Yeona KIM (3rd place); Mr. Nazeh ABU JAFFAR; Tsai Yi KUEI (5th place).



Women’s bodybuilding up to 49 kg category winner Yamanouchi SATOKO (Japan) with Mr. William TIERNEY (left) and Dr. Rafael SANTONJA (right).



Women’s bodybuilding up to 49 kg category line-up (from L): Yamanouchi SATOKO (1st place); Yeona KIM (3rd place); Didian AL NVR (4th place); Valentina TARASSOVA (2nd place).



Women’s bodybuilding over 52 kg category medal winners (from L): Alexandra KALININA (2nd place); Irina SHELINGOVSKAYA (1st place); Alina YAFIZOVA (3rd place).



Women’s bodyfitness over 160 cm category quarter turns (from L): Anna POPYVANOVA (4th place); Shizuka NAKAMURA (1st place); Yumi YAMASHITA (3rd place); Ju-Won OH (2nd place).



Women’s bodyfitness over 160 cm category champion Shizuka NAKAMURA with Dr. Rafael SANTONJA (left) and Mr. Pawel FILLEBORN (right).



Women’s bodyfitness up to 160 cm category quarter turns (from L): Natalya ROCHSHURKINA (1st place); Yoon-Jeong BANG (2nd place); Li Yi MING (4th place); Yelena MURUSHIDI (3rd place).

IN CONJUCTION WITH THE CHAMPIONSHIPS



In the Uzbekistan Olympic Committee [UzOC] Headquarter (from L): UzOC President Malik BABAEV; UzBFF President Ulugbek MAHMUDOV; IFBB President Dr. Rafael SANTONJA; IFBB General Secretary William TIERNEY; AFBF Hon. General Secretary Sanjay MORE.



Uzbekistan Minister of Culture and Sport, Jasur Akramov (second from right), honoured with the IFBB President’s Medal, presented to him by the IFBB delegation: President SANTONJA (in the center), IFBB General Secretary William TIERNEY (far right); AFBF Hon. General Secretary Sanjay MORE (far left) and UzBFF President Ulugbek MAHMUDOV (second from left).



IFBB Medal for the UzOC President Malik BABAEV presented to him by President SANTONJA (right).



Friendly talks at the Olympic Committee Headquarters.



In front of the Uzbekistan’s Sport Hall of Fame in the Olympic Committee Headquarters (from L to R): Personal Advisor of Sports Minister Mr. Dmitry ADISMAN; Mr. MORE; Minister AKRAMOV; President SANTONJA; President BABAEV; President MAHMUDOV and Mr. TIERNEY.

AFBF CONGRESS: National Federations’ delegates and guests participating in the 2012 AFBF Congress in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.



Official hotel of the Championships: Hotel Uzbekistan in Tashkent.



Officials from Iran - the Best Team at this Championships – with President Santonja and General Secretary William Tierney.



IFBB Vice-President Dr. Eng. Adel FAHIM (right) with delegates and coaches.



Sri Lanka National Team.



Oman National Team.



Sunny weather created good conditions for out-door interviews.



Pakistan National Team.



Kuwait National Team Coach Mohamed SALAMA displaying his huge biceps to a young fan of muscular bodies.



National coaches and top world bodybuilders: Mohamed SALAMA (Kuwait – left) and Anwar SEIF (Oman – right).


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