Classic News

Pakistan’s Atif Anwar wins title at Arnold Classic Australia

MELBOURNE: Former Mr. Pakistan and one of the prominent body builders of Pakistan Atif Anwar secured a title at Arnold Classic Body Building competition on Sunday, ARY News reported. Years of training and body building finally bore fruit as Pakistan’s Atif Anwar won the ‘over 100 kg class’ title at the event named after former Mr Olympia , Arnold Schwarzenegger. After beating one of the best body builders of the world in 100 kg class category, Atif was awarded the medal by the most renowned body builder of the world.

The title meant the world to Atif Anwar who brought this rare honour for Pakistan in a sport mostly neglected in the country. Other highlights at the annual event include Australia’s Strongest man, Arnold Weightlifting & Powerlifting and Arnold Armwrestling. The winners of title are called ‘Arnies’ after Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger, the Austrian-born American former professional bodybuilder, and politician. Schwarzenegger began weight training at the age of 15. He won the Mr. Universe title at age 20 and went on to win the Mr. Olympia contest seven times. Schwarzenegger has remained a prominent presence in bodybuilding and has written many books and articles on the sport.

Karachi based Atif Anwar had previously gathered a lot of honours including running fourth in Muscle Mania 2009. Kulsoom Abdullah — world’s first hijab-wearing weightlifter

KARACHI: Kulsoom Abdullah, Pakistani-American, has been weightlifting at both national and international level since 2010, but what is most interesting about her is that the lady is always sighted with hijab even though lifting enormous weights. Born and bred in the US, Abdullah’s parents (born in Pakistan; her father from Tangi and her mother from Charsadda) immigrated to America years ago, before her birth.

In 2005, her father passed away in Pakistan, leaving behind his wife and five children – of which Kulsoom Abdullah is the eldest. She is a computer engineer by profession, with a PhD from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Kulsoom Abdullah has participated in the ‘US National Competition’ in 2011, while in the same year she represented Pakistan (at the international level) at the ‘2011 World Weightlifting Championships’.

For the latter, Abdullah was not only the first female to compete, but she was also the first female to compete in hijab. And this year, Abdullah represented Pakistan in South Korea, at the ‘2012 Asian Weightlifting Championships’. However, in 2010 after qualifying to compete at the American Open, the USA Weightlifting Committee barred Abdullah from contending in the competition due to her clothing – clothing modifications were simply not allowed.

Participants had to adhere to wearing a ‘singlet’ – particular clothing for athletes that looks like a swimsuit with shorts.