Local bodybuilders who bagged gold and bronze medals at the 12th South Asian Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Championships have returned to Maldives.

The Maldives bodybuilding team was welcomes at Velana International Airport (VIA) by Home Minister Sheikh Imran Abdulla on Thursday.

During the championship held in Kathmandu, Nepal, contenders Mohamed Moosa, Ahmed Mahid Saeed and Azneen Rasheed won the historic gold in two categories, the junior men’s open bodybuilding and 170cm category.

Bodybuilding hopeful, Ahmed Mahil Saeed won in the junior men’s open bodybuilding category after having competed against bodybuilders from India, Afghanistan and Nepal.

The two bronze medalists are Ahmed Fazeel and Fathulla Mohamed.

Following their proud triumph, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih had extended congratulations on twitter.

The first time a Maldivian bodybuilder won gold at the championships event was in 2017 where Shaaheen Ibrahim Didi bagged gold in the 55kg category. Although Maldives won gold, silver and bronze medals in previous tournaments, Shaaheen’s was the first in a contest in the South Asian region.