Category Archives: News

SFBF to relaunch the National Bodybuilding Championship Contest

The Singapore Federation of Bodybuilding & Fitness (SFBF) will launch a National Bodybuilding competition called “The IFBB Singapore Nationals” on 13 May 2018.

This competition will relaunch the national bodybuilding championships that were once the pride of Singaporeans in the 90s. It was in the 90s that Singaporeans saw the likes of Augustine Lee and Azman Abdullah two famous local bodybuilding champions that led the charge for Singapore to be on the official bodybuilding World Map. They brought fame and glory to the nation and the sport.

Alex Michael Betts – SFBF President – Photo Credit: SFBF/Ishardi

During the 90s, we saw the Singaporean bodybuilding craze that lasted for over a decade. However, the momentum fizzed out due to various issues including industry infighting and other problems. The new SFBF headed by Alex Betts (SFBF President) and Nur Fauzi (SFBF Vice-President) intends to bring the “glory days” back to the industry.

“The industry has suffered from poor image and lacklustre public response for years now and we intend to change all that,” said Alex. He continued to add: “I am making sure that the championships will be in the true vein of the sport and that all judging and rules will follow the international standards set by the IFBB (International Federation of Bodybuilding & Fitness)”.

SFBF President Alex Michael Betts (middle) poses with Men’s Physique Competitors James Tan (left) and Abdul Ghani (right) 1-min – Photo Credit: SFBF/Ishardi

The one-day event will have athletes from both National and International levels participating in the championships. It is intentional and necessary for us to inject the flavour and essence of international competition to the local scene to show local athletes the immense potential that they can achieve with hard work. Whether it is a local athlete or an international one we will assure everyone that they are the STARS of this sport for the day.

“The Nationals is a show where the SFBF will unveil its mission to support the local athletes and grow the sport the right way and to eventually put Singapore back on the International Bodybuilding scene once again,” said Excell Chua, the Secretary-general of SFBF.

Men’s Physique Competitors Abdul Ghani (left) and James Tan (right) will battle it out at the upcoming IFBB Singapore Nationals 2018-min – Photo Credit: SFBF/Ishardi

The SFBF is aware of the negative image that has tarnished the sport over the last few years and are working with its international body to revive the image and to make a firm comeback in the local and regional scene.

We think the time is right for a comeback of the sport as we see more and more people coming on back to bodybuilding. There is an increase in people of all ages showing interest in this sport and not knowing how to progress. The SFBF feels that we can lead this new group of athletes and groom them into potential international stars like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Lou Ferrigno (The incredible Hulk), or Steve Reeves (Hercules) stars from the IFBB stable.

The Singapore Nationals 2018 will be the launching pad for many local “stars” as well as regional and international athletes. This we hope will be the first of several events that will take place in 2018- 2019 calendar.


Team Singapore

Super Star Team Singapore Bags Six Medals at the Prestigious Olympia Amateur Asia

7 Athletes representing Singapore as part of the Singapore Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (SFBF), which is the only IFBB (International Federation of Bodybuilding & Fitness) sanctioned organisation in Singapore, travelled to Hong Kong this week to take part in the prestigious Olympia Amateur Asia, which hosts over 400 athletes from huge nations around Asia, the Middle East and the UK in what is by far the biggest fitness and bodybuilding event in Asia. This was a three day affair running from the 23rd to the 26th October 2017.

Out of our relatively small Singapore Team of 7, 6 made it to the finals and bagged home medals & trophies for Singapore from huge pools of athletes in each of their respective categories.

 

The medalists were as follows:

1st Place – Gisele Lim – Gold medal & trophy in Bodyfitness over 163cm
2nd Place – Alexandra Peak-Watkinson – Silver medal & trophy in Bodyfitness over 163cm
3rd Place – Nur Nadiah Binte Ahmad Jani – Bronze medal & trophy in Bikini Fitness up to 158cm

4th Place – Tyen Fong – 4th Place medal in Bikini Fintess up to 162cm
5th Place – Benjamin Broughton – 5th Place medal in Classic Bodybuilding over 180cm
6th Place – Sam Enaya – 6th Place medal in Classic Bodybuilding up to 175cm

Michael Ling also made the top 10 in a stacked Men’s Physique category which saw him to the semi-finals but sadly just missed the cut for the final 6.

 

“The Singapore team was up against huge teams from nations such as Iran, China, Korea, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, Mongolia, the UAE, Egypt, the UK, among others which made these placings all the more significant, showing that there is a great deal of home grown potential in Singapore to really make a mark on the world stage of Fitness and Bodybuilding, which is something the SFBF is working to nurture and grow”, said Alex Michael Betts, President of Singapore Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (SFBF).

“Even more special and impressive than the medals and placings was the team spirit and professionalism demonstrated by all the athletes, who supported, encouraged and guided one another through thick and thin. This is true sportsmanship and exactly how this and every sport should be, like a family! In this case the IFBB family. All members of the team did themselves and the Republic of Singapore proud! Majulah Singapura! ”, continued Mr. Betts.

The Olympia Amateur is one of the most prestigious stage for any Amateur Fitness and Bodybuilding athlete to set foot on – for many it is something they many only ever dream of doing. Joe Weider’s Olympia was founded by the man who is known as the “father of bodybuilding”, the late Mr. Joe Weider, who was also one of the founders of the Internatinal Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB) back in 1946. The Mr. Olympia contest was designed to be the ulitmate stage for the very best bodybuilders from across all parts of the world to take part in.


Physique

SFBF makes history with the Show of Strength 2017

The 2017 edition of the annual Show of Strength event, organized by the Singapore Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (SFBF), was another exceptional showpiece bringing together more than 200 athletes and 800 attendees not from all over Asia.

The event was held at the prestigious Marina Bay Sands Convention Centre on 7th October which broke the history of being the first ever integrated health and fitness event, boosting the image of professional bodybuilding and other strength sports.

Described as the biggest fitness event in Singapore, the Show of Strength 2017 featured various fitness and sports such as Bodybuilding (Bikini, Physique, Body Fitness, Classic Bodybuilding, Men’s Bodybuilding, etc.), Powerlifting, Strongman, Arm Wrestling, Fittest NSMen, Functional Training, Yoga,  among others.

 

There were also activities to engage the audience at the event and these include Pole Dancing, Yoga, Pilates, Functional Training, Arm Wrestling, Strict Arm Curl and Push Up Challenge. The one-day fitness and bodybuilding extravaganza was not just about physical activities, as it also presented attendees and even participants with various workshops, exhibition, and opportunities to meet with leaders in the fitness industry in Asia.

 

The Show of Strength event has been described by many as the one-stop event for all health and fitness issues, and the 2017 edition was not an exception, surpassing the expectations of many. Some of the illustrious participants and guests that graced the event include Singapore’s strongest man Ahmad Taufiq, 3x Ms. Olympia Juliette Bergmann, IFBB Pro Joan Liew, multiple Asian Champion Augustine Lee, local fitness celebrity Melissa Sarah Wee, among many others.

Plans are already underway for the 2018 edition of the Show of Strength, which will be held in the same month, with several international athletes from across the globe billed to be participants and several other stakeholders in the industry scheduled to be at the event.

 

This event would not have been made possible without the support of the generous sponsors namely SAFRA EnergyOne, NutriFirst, Gorilla Wear, Couz-Nutri, HomeTeamNS, Albu-man, Ramada Hotel, Real Yoga, Peninsula Excelsior Hotel, Eleiko, Yoonly, Pokka, Muscle ‘n Meals, Oompf Fitness, Swole Addict, Heritage House, Jones the Grocer, Sloane Clinic, Mojo Singapore, The Meat Club, Grit Nation and La Brise de parfums.

SFBF would also like to thank their illustrious partners namely PoleLAB, Powerlifting Singapore, Strength Avenue, iFitness, Singapore Strongman Series, Fitness Factory, Cool Cheese Productions, Daily Escape, Tan@Home, Fitness Ironman, Fitness Workz, F45 Rochor and 24x Fitness.

Click here to view the list of show winners and watch the show videos.