Surat: On the second day of the state-level bodybuilding and powerlifting championship, a preliminary round of selection in bodybuilding competition was held at the City Plus multiplex. Of the contestants, 40 were selected in eight weight categories for the final rounds that were held on Sunday evening in Police Parade Ground, Athwalines.
Altogether 100 participants took part in the body building championship of whom, five were police personnel. The participants have come from 13 districts across the state.
On Saturday, 248 participants took part in preliminary rounds of powerlifting at Dayalji Ashram. City police is organizing both the events in association with National Powerlifting Federation and State Body Building Association (SBBA).
“The judges are senior sports persons and best in their respective fields. Participants are also the best of the lot of bodybuilders from across the state,” said one of the judges, Prashant Pillai.
Guest at the event, Premchand Degra, an International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB) professional bodybuilder, encouraged all the participants. “We have invited judges from Mumbai and all international standards are being followed. Apart from maintaining law and order it is the duty of police to give direction to society so that it can grow in the best possible way,” city police commissioner Ajay Tomar told TOI.
“It is an expensive sport and such events are a platform for those who work dedicatedly. Every year our association organises state-level competition to promote sports,” said Kanti Bhungaliya, general secretary of SBBA.