World Men Bodybuilding Championships

2009 WORLD MEN’S CHAMPIONSHIPS


ALI TABRIZI ONCE AGAIN!
by Andrew Michalak

This year’s IFBB World Men’s Championships in Doha, Qatar, attracted 167 competitors from 54 countries. Doha welcomed them with hot temperature (over 30 degrees of Celsius), clear sky and dozens of sky-scrapers being just under construction. IFBB officials were accommodated in one of the first modern building in Doha, the five-star Sheraton Hotel, while National Teams stayed in the similar quality Retaj Al Rayyan Hotel. Our Doha adventure was fascinating, as the city has really exploded with modernity and new technologies. Enough to say that there was a big skating rink inside the atrium of one shopping mall.

As usual, World Championships were accompanied by numerous meetings, banquets and less or more official discussions in which bodybuilding officials could exchange their opinion on various matters. Among the top influential IFBB officials present at these Championships we could see: IFBB President Dr. Rafael Santonja, IFBB Vice-Presidents: Albert Busek, Paul Graham, Dr. Eng. Adel Fahim, Continental Federations Presidents: Sheik Abdulla Bin Rashid Al-Khalifa (Asia) and Alexandre Pagnani (South America), IFBB Medical Committee Chairman Dr. Bob Goldman, Arnold Classic promoter Jim Lorimer, Qatar Bodybuilding and Weight Lifting Federation President Gen. Mohamed Yousef Al-Mana, Asian Federation Executive Vice-President Ibrahim Kafood, all three European Federation Vice-Presidents: Vladimir Dubinin, Pawel Filleborn and Jose Ramos, as well as many National Federations Presidents.

On Tuesday, November 3rd, athletes started their battle for medals and trophies. Despite the lightest class, up to 60 kg, all other categories had full semifinals, with 15-25 athletes in the line-up, so elimination round were needed to select the top fifteen in each category, who advanced to the semifinals.
The biggest and strongest teams came from Egypt (many 2008 world champions), South Korea (two 2009 World Games winners), Qatar, Brazil, Italy, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Middle East countries (Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, Lebanon, Jordan, Iran).
What is new on the bodybuilding map of the world, participation of much more countries from Africa and Central Asia. First time Africa is represented not only by strong bodybuilding countries from the North: Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Libya, but also by its “black middle”: Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania and super quality team from South Africa. Central Asia shows its athletes from Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Mongolia, India.
There was also a very complete representation of North America (Canada, USA, Mexico, Bahamas) and Central America (Nicaragua, Guatemala, Venezuela, El Salvador). Adding Japan, New Zealand, Australia, Mauritius, Sri Lanka), we can say that bodybuilders from all over the world came to Qatar to participate in this year Championships.

The semifinal battle involved comparisons, which was necessary to determine who entered the top six in the finals of each category and who finished the contest in places from 7th to 15th. The 53 finalists were happy on Tuesday evening and did their best to improve their condition and combat for the medals next day. The finals started on Wednesday, at 15:00, after the IFBB International Congress, scheduled for morning hours. Both events took place in the modern Al Majlis hall of the Sheraton Doha Hotel.

Among the defending champions we can see: Anwar El Amawy (60 kg); Mohamed Osman (70 kg); Hussain Jasim (75 kg); Kamal Abdul Salam (85 kg but now 90 kg); Ali Tabrizi (90 kg but now 100 kg) and Mohammed Zakaria (100 kg). Not all of them were in the top condition, same as a year ago, so the battle in some categories was very exciting and new world champions have been crowned. Let’s see category by category.

There were four athletes in the 60 kg class only but three of them are very well-known. Kyeong Mo Park of Korea won two Asian Championships silver medals and was the finalist of the 2008 Worlds. Anwar El Amawy of Egypt has 7 IFBB gold medals in his collection and was a defending champion and Adam Cibula of Slovakia won 5 European titles but has been no lucky at the Worlds but won the bronze medal this time and it is his first medal at the world level. Amawy didn’t defend the world title as park came in the top condition and was considerably fuller (legs). Well-deserved unanimous victory

65 kg category had full semifinals, with 15 athletes. Only Jung in Song from Korea was among the 2008 finalists, so new faces and new battle. The biggest sensation was silver medal for Prasanna Preise of Sri Lanka – the first Worlds medal for this country. The top trophy went to Amr Bassily of Egypt. Very narrow waist and full lats created a perfect view of the modern bodybuilder in good shape. Song was massive but too smooth.

70 kg class was the first category with elimination round as 19 competitors entered the stage. Egyptian bodybuilder Mohamed Osman came to defend the title and did it in the perfect style, showing almost perfect body. Fullness and lines of his muscles are incomparable. He gave no chance to his rivals, with Vyacheslav Makogon of Ukraine as a main challenger. But Makogon had to accept the silver medal, the same results as at the 2009 World Games. In the absence of the few famous 2008 finalists (Jose Carlos Santos, Sazali Abd Samad, Richard Riedl), athletes from Poland, Japan and Korea also entered the finals.

Over 20 competitors appeared on the stage in the 75 kg category. Among them few top international stars: 2009 World Games champion Changsoon Boo (Korea), four-time world champion Igor Kocis (Slovakia) and defending the title Hussain Jassim Ali from Bahrain. Boo, extremely muscular and full but lacking top hardness and quality, finished 6th. Kocis tried to regain the throne but Jassim came in top condition and looked fuller and harder (legs, upper back) and won the gold medal once again. On the other hand, Kocis was pressed by Sheriff El-Shiwy from Egypt, who placed higher in the third round but it was enough to overpass Kocis. Interesting category with top champions and tough battle.

80 kg class was lucky for the Europeans as they won their first gold medal. This has been achieved by the 2004 world champion Hristomir Hristov, who regain the throne after 5 years. Hristomir came full but in shape and won the both final rounds unanimously. El-Fadaly had to accept his second silver medal, after 2007 achievement, and new top quality athlete from South Africa, Conrad Nagel placed third.

85 kg category was the most unpredictable one. World title went to Haji Al-Balushi from Oman, who placed 6th in 2008 but… in the 75 kg division. Now, 10 kg heavier, he was the most complete bodybuilder on the stage, winning against two demanding Egyptian stars: Ahmed Esmat (2nd place) and Ibrahim Samy (3rd place) – 2008 runner-up in 80 kg category. Al-Balushi canon-style legs was a decisive factor.

90 kg class was dominated by former pro bodybuilder, but not in the IFBB, Sami Al-Haddad from Bahrain. He won all three rounds and nobody was good enough to challenge him this time: neither Mohamed Touri of Morocco, nor Hamidreza Keshani of Azerbaijan. But I think that eyes of most viewers were directed to famous Kamal Badul Salam, two-time world champion in 85 kg class, who moved up to the next category and… lost his superb conditions. Kamal finished fourth this time and it was his personal tragedy.

100 kg category was not less exciting as two world champions entered the stage: legendary Ali Tabrizi Nouri, who planned to turn pro in September but postponed his decision till the end of this year and 2009 world champion Mohammed Zakaria. But the second bodybuilder from Egypt, Anwar El-Sayed, was also a top player. Three-time world champion, Tabrizi, won all three rounds and then the overall title but was not in so good condition as in the previous years. El-Sayed finished second despite the fact he lost the third round to Zakaria. All of them showed big muscles but without top definition.

And the heaviest category, over 100 kg. European champion Dimitar Dimitrov of Bulgaria against two short and very muscular athletes: Alexandre Nataf of France and famous El Shahat Maboruk, who came much heavier (20 kg) this year, after wining 8 world titles in 80 kg and 85 kg categories. Nataf was the champion in the other federations, so it was his inaugural start in the IFBB. Dimitrov (120 kg) was in his top condition while his two extraordinary challengers – not. Separation and definition was not visible on them. In this case, Dimitrov won his first world title, while Nataf lost his silver medal in the third round.

My general impression is that the average quality of the athletes was higher than in the past years and it was extremely difficult for the last year’s champions to defend their titles. Especially, that many of them moved to the higher weight categories and displayed bigger but not so hard muscles.

IFBB has been in the continuous process of transformation and modification, entering new sports and categories (children fitness, wheelchair bodybuilding, new masters classes), new events (regional Olympic Games, Beach Games) and exploring new media possibilities (life webcasts, TV broadcasting, DVD production, weekly Newsletter). This activity should bring the IFBB into a new level and open new possibilities for our physique sports in the first half of the XXI century.

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all photos by Pawel Kleineder



Opening Ceremony: Qatar’s folk group performance.


Opening Ceremony: Parade of Nations.



Opening Ceremony: President of the Qatar Weight Lifting and Bodybuilding Federation Gen. Yousef Al-Mana (left) with the IFBB Gold Order presented to him by the IFBB President Dr. Rafael Santonja.



Opening Ceremony: IFBB Achievement Medal for the Executive Vice-President of the Asian Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness and Qatar Weight Lifting and Bodybuilding Federation General Secretary Mr. Ibrahim Kafood (left) presented to him by Dr. Santonja.



First row officials: Dr. Santonja (right) with the Asian Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness [AFBF] President Sheikh Abdullah bin Rashid Al Khalifa.



Opening Ceremony: Top IFBB Pro League bodybuilder Dennis Wolf posing for the fans.


60 KG CATEGORY



60 kg category medal winners (from L to R): Anwar EL AMAWY (2nd place); Kyeong Mo PARK (1st place); Adam CIBULA (3rd place).



60 kg category winner: Kyeong Mo PARK (South Korea).



60 kg category participants (from L to R): Kyeong Mo PARK (1st place); Anwar EL AMAWY (2nd place); Pinigey ODUM (4th place) and Adam CIBULA (3rd place).


65 KG CATEGORY


65 kg category medal winners (from L to R): Prasanna IHALA (2nd place); Mohamed NASR (1st place); Joung In SONG (3rd place).



65 kg category winner: Mohamed NASR (Egypt).



65 kg category finalists (from L to R): Amjad AL ZEIN (6th place); Denis PEDNEAULT (4th place); Mohamed NASR (1st place).



65 kg category finalists (from L to R): Joung In SONG (3rd place); Mauro RANIERI (5th place); Prasanna IHALA (2nd place).

70 KG CATEGORY



70 kg category medal winners (from L to R): Vyacheslav MAKOGON (2nd place); Mohamed OSMAN (1st place); Hyung Chan KIM (3rd place).



70 kg category winner: Mohamed OSMAN (Egypt).



70 kg category finalists (from L to R): Tomasz BLAZIAK (4th place); Masahiro SUE (5th place); Hyung Chan KIM (3rd place).



70 kg category finalists (from L to R): Mohamed OSMAN (1st place); Masahiro SUE (5th place); Koji GODO (6th place).

75 KG CATEGORY



75 kg category medal winners (from L to R): Igor KOCIS (2nd place); Ismaeel HUSAIN (1st place); Sheriff EL SHIWY (3rd place).



75 kg category winner: Ismaeel HUSAIN (Bahrain).



75 kg category finalists (from L to R): Chang Soon BOO (6th place); Igor KOCIS (2nd place); Filippo MASUCCI (4th place).



Ismaeel HUSAIN (1st place); Igor KOCIS (2nd place); Ali KHALID (5th place).

80 KG CATEGORY



80 kg category medal winners (from L to R): Mahmoud NEAMATALLA (2nd place); Hristomir HRISTOV (1st place); Conrad NAGEL (3rd place).



80 kg category winner: Hristomir HRISTOV (Bulgaria).



80 kg category finalists (from L to R): Do Hee LEE (4th place); Conrad NAGEL (3rd place); Mauricio GARZA (5th place).



80 kg category finalists (from L to R): Yusuf ARAFAT YAQOOB (6th place); Mahmoud NEAMATALLA (2nd place); Hristomir HRISTOV (1st place).

85 KG CATEGORY



85 kg category medal winners (from L to R): Ahmed ABDALLA (2nd place); Haji AL BALUSHI (1st place); Ibrahim FAHIM (3rd place).



85 kg category winner: Haji AL BALUSHI (Oman).




85 kg category finalists (from L to R): Serkan CETIN (5th place); Mohamed SAFANI (4th place); Marcello CORSINI (6th place).



85 kg category finalists (from L to R): Haji AL BALUSHI (1st place); Ibrahim FAHIM (3rd place); Ahmed ABDALLA (2nd place).



85 kg category victory ceremony (from L to R): IFBB Judges Committee chairman Pawel FILLEBORN; Mohamed SAFANI (4th place); Polish Sport Ministry Adviser Andrzej BANASIAK; Ahmed ABDALLA (2nd place); Asian Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness [AFBF] President Sheikh Abdullah bin Rashid AL KHALIFA.

90 KG CATEGORY



90 kg category medal winners (from L to R): Mohammed TOURI (2nd place); Ibrahim SAMI (1st place); Hamidreza KESHANI (3rd place).



90 kg category winner: Ibrahim SAMI (Bahrain).



90 kg category finalists (from L to R): Kamal Abdul SALAM (4th place); Mohamad KHALED (5th place); Oguz ERSIN (6th place).



90 kg category finalists (from L to R): Ibrahim SAMI (1st place); Mohamad KHALED (5th place); Mohammed TOURI (2nd place).



90 kg category victory ceremony (from L to R): IFBB Patron Joan CAMPOLIER; Mohammed TOURI (2nd place); Sheikh Abdullah bin Rashid AL KHALIFA; Ibrahim SAMI (1st place); Dr. Rafael SANTONJA; Hamidreza KESHANI (3rd place); IFBB Medical Committee Chairman Dr. Bob GOLDMAN.

100 KG CATEGORY



100 kg category finalists (from L to R): Anwar EL SAYED (2nd place); Emiliano DELL’UOMO (4th place); Ali TABRIZI (1st place).



100 kg category winner: Ali TABRIZI (Qatar).



100 kg category finalists (from L to R): Anwar EL SAYED (2nd place); Emiliano DELL’UOMO (4th place); Ali TABRIZI (1st place).



100 kg category finalists (from L to R): Mohamed ZAKARIA (3rd place); Emiliano DELL’UOMO (4th place); Sener CINOGLU (5th place).



100 kg category finalists (from L to R): Anwar EL SAYED (2nd place); Mohamed ZAKARIA (3rd place).



100 kg category victory ceremony (from L to R): Anwar EL SAYED (2nd place); Mr. Ibrahim KAFOOD; Ali TABRIZI (1st place).





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