Soldier Madhavan Rajkumaran brought glory to Sri Lanka at the 53rd Asian Bodybuilding & Fitness Championship conducted by the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB) in China from July 26 to 29 when he secured a bronze medal in the 60kgs weight category.
The 22-year-old from Pussellawa who rose to international prominence when he won a gold medal at the South Asian Bodybuilding championship last year, was the only medal winner after Sri Lanka took part in the annual event organized by IFBB after a lapse of three years.
The six-member national team competed in Physique Bodybuilding, Bodybuilding weight categories, Junior Under 23 and Masters Over 50 events secured fourth and fifth positions in a competition dominated by host nation China.
The interim committee appointed by the Sports Ministry to govern bodybuilding appointed Prasanna Peiris, a gold medallist in the Asian event in 2009, as national coach with the athletes training for more than a month at Shakhti Gym in Kandana. However, the manager-designated for the tour Tilak Jayaweera could not travel due to lack of funds.
Army’s Asanka Viraj and Nuwan Gunasekera from Nuwara Eliya took part in the Physique Bodybuilding contest being placed fourth and sixth respectively. Colin Hettiarachchi (55kgs) competing in the Bodybuilding weight categories secured fourth place.
Vishal Lakmina competing in the Junior Under 23 event was placed sixth while Sri Lanka Masters champion Nishantha Perera, 54, competing in the Masters over 50 event was adjudged fourth. The heavier weight classes were dominated by athletes from Iran and Iraq.
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