Bangkok, August 23, 2025: Pakistan shone at the Asian Bodybuilding Championship 2025 in Bangkok, bagging four gold medals, including two on Saturday, in a remarkable display of strength and perseverance.
Faizan Gul secured gold in the 170 cm Sports Physique category, while Bilal Ahmed triumphed in the 180 cm Sports Physique category, lifting Pakistan’s total medal tally to four.
Earlier, Ijaz Khan claimed gold in the Masters division, and Farast Ali, a puncture repair worker from Multan, stunned the competition by winning the 75 kg category in his debut international event.
“Competing against bodybuilders from several countries, including India, he succeeded in winning the gold medal,” Pakistan Bodybuilding Federation Secretary Sohail Anwar told a private news channel, praising Farast’s achievement.
Farast, 51, revealed that financial hardships had nearly kept him from competing.
“I have a small shop outside my home in Multan where I repair punctures. I couldn’t afford to travel to other cities. I participated in the trials in Islamabad, got selected, and the Bodybuilding Federation took me to Bangkok at their expense,” he said.
The victories mark one of Pakistan’s most successful outings at an Asian bodybuilding competition, with the athletes’ stories of grit and determination resonating beyond the medals.
