by Andrew Michalak

It was his third try. In 2009 he lost to Ali Tabrizi, in 2010 – to Mohammed Touri. Sami Al-Haddad, 38, is an experienced bodybuilder, with long competitive history. He appeared at the international level in 1994, winning the Asian junior title. His series of victories started in 2009, when he won the Asian and World Championships. In 2010 he defended these titles but added the Asian overall champion title. He started 2011 with the historical victory at the first ever Amateur Olympia, winning the overall category as well. And now he won his first Men’s Worlds overall title, advancing to the pantheon of the elite IFBB amateur bodybuilders having won the world men’s overall title. The only lacking prestigious title in his collection is the Arnold Amateur victory. He has already declared to go to Columbus next spring and fight for this title.

Indian Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation, headed by the member of the Indian Parliament Mr. Ranjitsinh Mohite Patil, in co-operation with Maharashtra Bodybuilding Association, headed by Mr. Sanjay More, and Mumbai Bodybuilding Association, headed by Mr. Satywan Kadam, did their best to make these Championships unforgettable, with special attention to the finals run in the open-air stadium in the Andheri Sports Complex. And these finals, with the red-carpet-covered stage, the audience with comfortable three-person sofas put in rows on the grass, the procedure including fireworks launched after each category winner had been declared, the perfect sound and light systems, the presence of high-ranked politicians and Bollywood stars, including the first Indian professional bodybuilder and actor Mr. Varinder Singh Ghuman, created a special, very impressive atmosphere. It was a great sport spectacle made in a show-like style, with visible Indian culture influences.
Congratulations to the UTEX Exhibitions & Marketing Services Pvt. Ltd., who designed this spectacle. CEO of UTEX India, Mr. Ganpat Shelar, said – “It will be a beginning of a new era for a strong and healthy India.” We wish them this dream to come true.

India was hosting the IFBB World Men’s Championships second time in history, following the 2003 Men’s Worlds, also staged in Mumbai. Looking at the final results of the Championships and the sport quality of the Indian bodybuilders, we can see
a dramatic progress they have made through these 8 years. In 2003 India entered
10 athletes and took the 17th place in the best teams classification (9 points), with the best individual achievement of Prasad Kumar (6th place in 85 kg category). This time India entered 23 bodybuilders and was the 2nd best team in the world, after unbeatable Egypt. Their competitors won 5 medals, with Hira Lal as the world champion in 65 kg category. He is the fourth Indian bodybuilder winning this prestigious world title, after the legendary Monotosh Roy (1951) and Monohar Aich (1952) as well as Prem Chand Degra (1988).
These organizational and sport achievements has put India as one of the strongest country on the bodybuilding map of the world. Thy only problem most of the participants had had was to obtain the Indian visa. A couple of top athletes and some national federations officials didn’t come to these Championships because didn’t get visa in due time. It’s not so easy to enter “Incredible India”.

Let’s see what happened in each category:

Men’s bodybuilding up to 60 kg: At the top, Korea vs. India battle. Korean Kyong Mo Park took his third consecutive world title, easily winning both physique rounds but should improve his routine, losing this round to Wangbung Cho (Korea) and S.K. Mustaque (India). 2007 world champion Wangbung Cho won the second silver medal in his career, moving one place up compared to his 2010 achievement. S.K. Mustaque placed 3rd in his world debut, ahead of his team-mate Manoj Kumar. 2009 bronze medal winner Adam Cibula (Slovakia) dropped to the 5th place, while seven-time world champion Anwar El-Amawy (Egypt) finished in the 8th position in his 20th World’s appearance (since 1987). In 2003 in Mumbai he won the gold medal.

Men’s bodybuilding up to 65 kg: The total revolution: nobody from the previous medal winners came to India. World champion Prasanna Peiris from the neighbour Sri Lanka had problems with visa. The only 2010 finalist Rezvan Aliyev (Kazakhstan) dropped to the 12 position. In Mumbai, this category was dominated by two well-known Indian bodybuilders: Hira Lal and Irabanta Singh. Head constable in the Punjub Police and vegetarian bodybuilder, Lal already won the National, South-Asian and Asian Championships.

Men’s bodybuilding up to 70 kg: Mumbai was not fortunate only to Hira Lal. Maybe is even more fortunate to the Slovak bodybuilder Igor Kocis. He won four world titles between 2001 and 2005, among them in 2003 in Mumbai. But then lost it and couldn’t regain it till this year. Mumbai brought him his 5th gold medal. But after tough battle against the Indian champion Bala Maheshwaran and Egyptian star, 2010 world masters champion Gamal Elkomy.

Men’s bodybuilding up to 75 kg: Perfectly built Egyptian star Mohamed Osman came and won once again. Nobody could do any damage to him, he received the perfect scores from the judges in all rounds. The other 2010 world champion, but the 70 kg category, Mahmut Irmak of Turkey, now moved up to 75 kg class and placed 2nd after the semifinals. But the finals changed the order upside-down. The two last bodybuilders from the semifinals: Hamat Alshatti (Kuwait) and Ashish Sakharkar (India) advanced to the 2nd and 3rd position respectively, pushing Irmak down to the 4th place.

Men’s bodybuilding up to 80 kg: Fantastic combat of three competitors: newcomer from Iran, Ahmad Paydar, 2010 runner-up Mahmud El-Fadaly (Egypt) and 2011 Arnold America runner-up Igor Losev (Russia). El-Fadaly clearly won the first round, ahead of the next Moroccan star Omar Khaldi and Paydar. In the 2nd round, continuously improving his muscle definition Paydar advanced to the top, but only 2 points ahead of El-Fadaly. The last round brought the next surprise, moving up Losev to the top, with Paydar and German veteran, 1994 world champion Eduard Derzapf behind him. Mathematics brought the final order: Paydar kept his 1st position, with El-Fadaly in the 2nd place and Losev with bronze medal.

Men’s bodybuilding up to 85 kg: In the absence of the two-time world champion Haji Al-Balushi of Oman, the 2010 world champion in 80 kg category, Ahmed
El-Sadany of Egypt, easily dominated this class. Two new Middle East stars: Mourad Sherif (Kuwait) and Ahmed Ashraf (Egypt) took silver and bronze medals. The next places went to European experienced athletes: returning after so long break Simone Meiattini (Italy) and Arnold Europe winner Marian Cambal (Slovakia).

Men’s bodybuilding up to 90 kg: Very close battle of the 2010 world champion Sami Al-Haddad (Bahrain) against quickly progressing Iranian star Mehdi Hatami.
In two rounds Al-Haddad won by one point only but it was enough to defend the world title. And the next bodybuilder from Iran, Mohammad Mehraban who placed 3rd, is not less talented. Fourth place to the master bodybuilder from Italy, Dennis Giusto, 42, who improved so much after his less fortunate start at Arnold Europe.

Men’s bodybuilding up to 100 kg: Two famous Egyptians: Mohammed Zakaria and Moustafa Nasim against not less famous Hamid Reza Keshani of Azerbaijan. Zakaria put all his efforts to regain the world title won in 2008. He lost it in 2009 and failed to regain in 2010 (2nd place behind Mohammed Touri). Keshani was runner-up last year but in 90 kg division. Now developed bigger muscle mass and tried in the heavier category. Nasim was runner-up in 2007 and placed 3rd last year behind Keshani in 90 kg class. Both were searching the possibility for their first world title in 100 kg category. Top exciting battle of the top international champions, but this time Zakaria was unbeatable, winning all three rounds, ahead of Keshani and Nasim.

Men’s bodybuilding over 100 kg: Long line-up of 22 super heavyweight giants and new “heavy” problem: some of the top athletes were suspected to have oil or other liquid injected to some of their muscles to increase their size and improve their natural shape . These muscles look out of place on the human body and this was taken into consideration by the judges and influenced the final results. This is a clear message from the IFBB to its physique sports athletes: stop to inject so called "site enhancement liquids" into your muscles. This will not be tolerated.
The first round went to a new Egyptian star Mohamed Olama Salama, closely followed by Hasan Rahnamaeian from Iran and Ahmed Ali Verdi from Azerbaijan. But the second round brought new order: Ratislav Solar of Slovakia and Andrzej Kolodziejczyk moved up to the two top places, ahead of Rahnamaeian, Ali Verdi and Salama.

Overall: What an incredibly close combat of three top competitors: Sami Al-Haddad, Mohammed Zakaria and Ahmed El-Sadany! Finally they received 10:11:11 points respectively. It is like milliseconds difference in swimming or sprinting!

More detailed report in the next IFBB Universe issue.



Kyong Mo PARK (South Korea), 38 years old, 161 cm tall. Trainer from Seoul. Just won his 3rd consecutive world title.



Hira LAL (India), 34 years old. Punjab Police Head Constable. National, East-Asian and Asian champion.



Igor KOCIS (Slovakia), 35 years old, 167 cm tall. Sport instructor from Banska Bystrica. Already won four worlds title in 2001 – 2005. This year returned to the throne.



Mohammed OSMAN (Egypt), 35 years old, 175 cm tall. Trainer from Alexandria. Already won three Word titles (2008-2010).



Ahmad PAYDAR (Iran), 37 years old, 170 cm tall. Personal trainer from Kashan. First time at the World Championships.



Ahmed EL-SADANY (Egypt), 27 years old, 168 cm tall. Accountant from Cairo. Won his second consecutive world title.



Sami AL-HADDAD (Bahrain), 38 years old, 173 cm tall, from Manama. Won his third consecutive world title and his first world overall title. Earlier this year won historical first Amateur Olympia overall.



Mohammed ZAKARIA (Egypt), 28 years old, 180 cm tall. Trainer from Giza. Already won 2008 world title and finished runner-up in 2010.



Ratislav SOLAR (Slovakia), 33 years old, 111 kg, 180 cm.
2010 European champion and 2008 Worlds bronze medal winner.



Sami AL-HADDAD.

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