Bodybuilder Ade Rai to take two-year break

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian bodybuilder champion Ade Rai hopes to take a two-year break from competitions starting early next year in order to fulfill his desire to popularize bodybuilding throughout the country.

The reason to quit competitions is not because he is satisfied with having won many titles in international events.

"I have gained success in competitions at international level. I won the Super Body competition in New York in May and the 10th Anniversary Musclemania World Championships in Anaheim, California, in November. But my biggest challenge is promoting and developing bodybuilding in Indonesia," Ade said on Tuesday on the sidelines of a badminton discussion on "Measuring the Advantage and Disadvantage of Collective and Individual Sponsorship Systems."

Ade, who also runs fitness centers in Jakarta and Bali, wants to publish a bulletin on bodybuilding soon. He is also writing a book on nutrition for bodybuilders.

Another way to popularize bodybuilding is by producing a VCD. However, when asked about the problems regarding pirated VCDs, Ade said he wasn't worried at all.

"People may suffer a financial loss if their VCD is pirated. But for me, it's an advantage because many people will see me and will see bodybuilding. It's a free promotion. Besides, if I make a VCD it won't be to earn profits."

"I'm currently approaching TV stations in Indonesia to broadcast bodybuilding competitions regularly. It is one of my goals to popularize the sport effectively," said Ade, who became overall champion in the 1996 Musclemania competition.

Despite being banned for three years by the International Bodybuilding Federation (IFBB) and the Asian Body Building Federation (ABBF), Ade said he was not disturbed by the ban.

"I don't have any intention to compete in competitions sanctioned by the two bodies. Actually, the suspension really insulted me. If they don't need me then I won't need them," he said.

When asked about sponsorship in bodybuilding, Ade said he only hoped that his colleagues could gain sponsors, as national badminton players have done.

"For now, having a free facility to train is enough for national bodybuilders. Regarding sponsorship, I think realistically it's too early for me to say because the sport is still not that popular. Maybe someday, we can become like badminton players and gain sponsors." (yan)