Thai body builders to flex their muscles
[BODY BUILDING] After a successful competition in Singapore in May, Thai body builders Roongtawan Jindasing and Apiporn Chomsomboon are now hoping to do well at a tournament in Vietnam from August 30 to September 4.
The Vietnam tournament consists of the Asian Juniors and Masters Men's, Women's bodybuilding, Ms Fitness and Bodyfitness events and will be held in Bien Hoa. National women's champion Roongtawan won a silver medal in the 49kg body building division and one silver from the over 1.60m Miss Fitness event. Last year's Asian winner Apiporn won a bronze medal in the 55kg body building category and another bronze in the up to 1.60m Miss fitness class in May. In Vietnam, Apiporn will compete in the 52kg body building class and the under 1.60m Ms Fitness event, while Roongtawan will contest the same classes she did in Singapore. "We have been training hard and hope to win the medals," said Indian-Thai Roongtawan, who also coaches the Thai judo squad. "However, our success will depend on the referees because it is an eye-judging sport and anything can happen." Apart from Roongtawan and Apiporn, the Thai Body Building Association (TBBA) will also send four junior men's body builders to the same event. Last year's Asian Championships silver medal winner Chanwit Chaiwong will contest the 60kg division and Krit Poomsirikul, this year's National Championship bronze medallist, will contest the 65kg category. Wutthichai Sangtula, a silver medallist at the Asian Junior Championships last year, will contest the 75kg class, while this year's National champion Wutthinon Preechawuth will compete in the 80kg division. The five-day event features four categories - junior's men body building, master men's body building, women's body building, Miss Fitness and Miss Body Fitness. TBBA President Pakapong Kriangsak, who is also the President of the Southeast Asian Bodybuilding Federation (SABF), is confident Thai squad will return with at least two gold medals. "We have set our sights on two contestants, who are preparing for next year's SEA Games in Thailand. They are Wutthichai and Wutthinon who continue to improve," said Pakapong. He added that the body builder who wins a gold medal in Vietnam will be sent to the World Junior Championship, which will be held in Italy in October.
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