Singapore triumphs at ASEAN BC 2004

Wahyoe Boediwardhana, Nusa Dua, Bali

Singaporean bodybuilders emerged the overall winners in the 7th South East Asian Bodybuilding Championship 2004, which ended in Bali on Saturday.

Singapore won three gold, three silver and two bronze medals. They won the golds in the 65kg, 80kg and 90kg categories.

Myanmar brought home two golds in the 55kg through Zaw Wan and the 85kg courtesy of Min Zaw Oo, who was later declared Mr. Bali.

Two golds were also won by Vietnam while Thailand returned home with one gold.

Indonesia had five contenders in the finals but only Iswinando and Indiana came down off the stage with medals -- bronzes in the 75kg and 90kg classes respectively.

The other three Indonesians, Ketut Arsa in the 55kg, Syarifuddin Naani in the 65kg and Bobby in the 70kg classes finished empty-handed.

Ketut Arsa admitted to being overawed by his rivals after witnessing how they performed on the stage.

"Aware that my chances were slim, I felt down. I was so nervous that I shaved my head," he said while pointing at his almost completely shaven head.

Indonesian trainer Yopi admitted that the bodybuilders from neighboring countries such as Vietnam, Singapore and Thailand looked far better than the local athletes.

But Yopi signaled that if Indonesia had competed with its top athletes they would probably have ended up in a stronger position.

A number of strong local athletes have been deprived of the chance of participating in the tournament following a dispute between the newly-established Indonesian Body-Building Federation (FBI) and the long established PABBSI, the weightlifting and powerlifting body, which also used to supervise bodybuilding.

"Our top bodybuilders are not allowed to take part in this championship. If they do, they will be banned from the National Games in September," Yopi said.

Indonesian team manager Irwan Siregar hoped that the National Sports Council (KONI) would recognize FBI, currently chaired by political activists Roy BB Janis.