By IANS,
New Delhi: Two-time and current Mr. Olympia winner Phil Heath bagged the Sheru Classic men’s pro bodybuilding title at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium here.
Amid chaotic arrangements by the organisers, the defending champion Heath won the $60,000 prize purse in a close competition defeating former Arnold Classic winner Kai Greene, who came second and took home a cheque of $40,000 late Saturday night.
This is Heath’s second title in a week’s time after he won Mr. Olympia last Sunday in Las Vegas. Forty-six year-old Tony Freeman was third taking home a prize purse of $20,000.
Poor organisation and seating arrangements left the event in a mess. Seats were not arranged according to the categories which left the crowd confused leading them to sit wherever they could find a seat.
Even before the event began there were heated arguments among the audience who were not sure where their category seats were located and sat down close to the stage, even on the floor.
After the competition started an hour late from the scheduled time of 7 p.m., the crowd in the upper stands ran amok and tried to reach the stage barging through as the police chased them, baton charging a few.
However, the championship went on.
Among the women, current Figure Olympia champion Erin Stern beat defending champion Nicole Wilkins for first place to win $7,000. Wilkins came second taking home $5,000 while Candice Keene was third winning $3,500.
In the men’s pro 212 category, David Henry won to take home a cheque of $7,000. American Jose Raymond and Pakistani Masoom Butt came second and third, respectively.
In the women’s pro bikini championship, defending champion Nicole Nagrani won her second consecutive title at the Sheru Classic. India Paulino and Nicole Moneer were second and third, respectively.
Sheru Classic Professional Bodybuilding Championship is Asia’s first and only professional bodybuilding championship under the aegis of International Federation of Bodybuilders (IFBB). The inaugural event took place last year in Mumbai.