KHK Bodybuilding Open Wins IFBB Status
Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa Open has been elevated to full international status by bodybuilding’s world governing body, putting the September show on the IFBB’s annual calendar and opening the door to a stronger field of overseas competitors.
The third edition will be held on September 19 at the Shaikh Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Hall at the University of Bahrain, with leading professionals and amateurs expected to compete.
The International Federation of Fitness and Bodybuilding gave the championship its international ranking after two successful editions and the reputation it has built within the sport.
Sami Al Haddad, chairman of the Bahrain Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation and head of the higher organising committee, said the ruling gave the event greater weight and showed the trust placed in Bahrain as a host of top-level competitions.
Athletes will also be able to earn recognised international rankings under IFBB rules, adding further weight to the contest and giving overseas competitors another reason to enter.
‘We are proud that the third Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa Open Bodybuilding Championship has received official recognition from the International Federation of Fitness and Bodybuilding,’ Al Haddad said.
‘It shows the confidence Bahrain enjoys at international level and the quality of work carried out by the Bahrain federation in staging championships to world-class standards.’
Al Haddad said the new status was expected to bring more leading bodybuilders from around the world and lift the standard of competition when the event returns next month.
He said the federation would press ahead with plans to bring more international championships to Bahrain, with sports tourism among the aims of its long-term work.
Related Posts