Paki Pride
Two former Pakistan National Champions came to make their mark at MM Universe. Ashfaq Butt, a mammoth 6′2″, 226 lbs. South Asian bodybuilder won the HW Class, and Shoaib Zahor, a legendary Paki who is known for his incredible shape. Ashfaq beat out an awe inspiring line-up of 200+ pounders to earn his MM Pro card. But Shoaib narrowly missed being a LW Class Top 5 Finalist due to water retention resulting from the long 17,000 mile flight from Islabadad to Miami. This was Ashfaq’s second foray on the Musclemania World Tour having placed last year in Hollywood. He said he was determined to returned home to train, increase his muscle mass and bring back to Musclemania a new physique. “I was so impressed last year that I knew I what I had to do to win, especially working on my calves and hamstrings. The American judges want symmetry, so it was my priority for the past six months,” explained Ashfaq.
Both bodybuilders train at Shoaib’s gym in Lahore, Pakistan, where many of the country’s best bodybuilders can be found training in large home gyms, sport clubs and a burgeoning commercial fitness centers. Now that Ashfaq has earned MM Pro status, he professed that, “It has been such a personal, financial and professional sacrifice. It means so much to have earned this level in my career.
It would be such an honor and want my family and country to be proud, too.” Both Ashfaq and Shoaib have six month stays on their US visas and will remain in the US and compete at MM World in Las Vegas in November. Says Shoaib, “I don’t plan on returning home without a first place trophy this time.”
Staff Report
