Bangkok--27 Aug--Thana Burin Asia Pacific Thai Bodybuilding Association has today introduced 10 national athletes for Asian Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships (41st Asian Men's and 24th Asian Women's, 20th Asian Men's Juniors, 9th Asian Men's Masters together with 9th Ms. Fitness and 4th Bodyfitness including the new event: 1st Asian Men's Fitness) scheduled from 28 August — 3 September 2007 at Shainghai, People’s Republic of China. The Association expects to win 3 gold medals and plan to push Men’s Junior for international competitions. Mr Pakpong Kriangsak, President of Thai Bodybuilding Association, said there will be 7 categories for 20 countries from Asian region to compete. The Association will send 10 bodybuilding and fitness athletes in 6 difference categories which are Men’s Junior Bodybuilding, Men’s Bodybuilding, Men’s Master, Women’s Bodybuilding, MS Fitness and MR Fitness. Athletes are; Men’s Junior Bodybuilding Mr Wuttichai Sarngtular (Junior Welterweight 75 kg) Mr Wijitsil Wuthikarn (Junior Welterweight 75 kg) Mr Krit BhumiSirikul (Junior Bantamweight 65 kg) Men’s Bodybuilding Mr Kongtit Hanchaiyuthakorn (Bantamweight 65 kg) Mr Prap Poramabhuti (Welterweight 75 kg) Mr Sawang Panapoy (Light-Middleweight 80 kg) Men’s Master Mr Pala Meechai (50 years old & below) Women’s Bodybuilding Ms Apiporn Chomsomboon (Lightweight 52 kg) Ms Rungtawan Jindasing (Bantamweight 49 kg) MS Fitness Ms Apiporn Chomsomboon (Ms Fitness-up to & incl 160 cm) Ms Rungtawan Jindasing (Ms Fitness- 160 cm & above) MR Fitness Mr Wanchai Kanchanapimai (Open category) TBBA President further said that we expect to win 3 gold medals from last year event gold medalists who are Mr Wuttichai Sarngtular and Ms Rungtawan Jindasing. Moreover, Mr Sawang is able to get a gold from Men’s Master. Besides these, we see good chances to win more medals as we have 3 bronze medalists from last year competition, Mr Prap Poramabhuti, Mr Krit BhumiSirikul and Ms Apiporn Chomsomboon. Additionally Mr Sawang Panapoy who is a champion of bodybuilding champion for 2007 (MR THAILAND). “We are creating next generation of bodybuilding to replace Sitthi Charoenrith, 2-time-world and Asian Games champion, as we would like bodybuilding to continue growing. We will consider results of Asian Championships to send junior bodybuilding team to compete in 28th IFBB World Juniors Championships organised in Budapest, Hungary in November” Mr Pakpong added. This year, Bodybuilding athletes have several events to compete such as 25th IFBB World Women's Bodybuilding, Fitness & Body Fitness Championships, 2nd IFBB World Men's Fitness Championships organised on 20 — 24 September in Santa Susanna, Spain, 61st IFBB Men’s World Bodybuilding Championships scheduled from 24 - 29 OCTOBER, 2007 in Jeju, South Korea and The 24th SEA Games on 6-15 December in Nakon Ratchasima. Editor’s note Athletes will depart Bangkok for Asian Championships on 28th August 2007 by TG 664 at 1100 hrs and arrive Shainghai, People’s Republic of China at 1725 hrs. The team will return to Bangkok on 3rd September by TG 665 at 2100 hrs. Click for photo release at www.thaipr.net