Warm welcome for Bronze medallist Al Haddad

Manama : Sami Al Haddad returned recently to Bahrain after winning a bronze medal in the 212lb category of the recent 2017 IFBB Titan Medical (Tampa) Bodybuilding Championship for professionals at the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay Beach Hotel from August 3 to 5 in Florida, US.

Taking gold was American Dennis Lunsford and compatriot Jacob Wilson picked up silver of the 16 participants.

On his return, the 44-year old champion denied that he was going to retire and thanked HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Representative of His Majesty the King for Charity Works and Youth Affairs, Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, President of the Bahrain Olympic Committee, for his support and continuation of representing Bahrain in regional and international events.

Al Haddad said he was proud to represent Bahrain and fly the flag as he has since 1993 and would continue to do so.

Back on Bahraini soil, he was received at Bahrain International Airport by the Vice-President of the Bahrain Weightlifting Federation (BWF) Sultan Al-Ghanim and Bodybuilding Committee member Hussain Hayki.

His most prominent success recently was a gold medal in a championship in Zilina, Slovakia last year and is expected to compete in the 2017 Mister Olympia next month in Las Vegas, Nevada, US.