(Seychelles News Agency) - Bodybuilder Ziad Mekdachi has added one more Mr. Seychelles title to his name after winning first place in the bodybuilding competition over the weekend.

This is the fifth Mr. Seychelles title for Mekdachi who told SNA on Monday that, “It’s another achievement that I can add to my CV, I am very proud of it especially as this one is my favourite.”

Mekdachi said that this year the competitors were very impressive in the event, but he was well prepared.

“Like for every competition I do my preparation to the maximum and make sure I am ready 100 percent,” Mekdachi told SNA. 

The winners of four other categories included: Ahmad Moncherry, who kept his title of Mr Seychelles Junior; Alain Rosalie, of the Men’s Physique; Joe Gabriel, winner of the Masters category; and new on the programme was Miss Bikini with Rosette Pillay the winner.

Photo 1: Joe Gabriel, winner of the Masters category and Photo 2: Ahmad Moncherry winner of the Mr Seychelles Junior title. (Louis Toussaint, Seychelles News Agency)

Compared to the other categories which are for bodybuilders, Miss Bikini is for women going to the gym for toning and sculpting their physique. It is also included as an event in international competitions.

The chair of the local bodybuilding federation, Regis Delorie, told SNA, “The turnout for Mr Seychelles was very good, and it was the first time we had that many athletes participating.”

Delorie said for the first time the categories were separated, and they also introduced the Miss Bikini.

New on the programme of the Mr Seychelles competition this year was Miss Bikini won by Rosette Pillay. Miss Bikini is for women going to the gym for toning and sculpting their physique. (Louis Toussaint, Seychelles News Agency)

Before the Mr Seychelles competition, the 37-year old Mekdachi had won bronze medal in the Arnold Classic competition in South Africa in May this year. He is now getting ready for the Eric Favre Classic to be held in Seychelles, an archipelago in the western Indian Ocean.

The ‘Éric Favre Classic’ is the equivalent of a former competition bringing together bodybuilders from the island nations of the region to choose a ‘Mr Indian Ocean’.

The competition is an initiative of French national, Éric Favre, a former bodybuilder and an international coach working with the International Federation of Body-Building (IFBB) who has made the island of Mauritius his present home.

The competition to be held in Seychelles will feature other bodybuilders from the Indian Ocean islands will take place on November 19 at the Seychelles International Conference Centre. 

Mekdachi has participated in the previous two editions of the competition and says that the Arnold Classic and Mr. Seychelles have prepared him for this event.

Ziad Mekdachi has won his fifth Mr. Seychelles title in 2016. (Louis Toussaint, Seychelles News Agency)

Delorie said, “In both Eric Favre competitions, Seychellois bodybuilders performed well and reached the final. So it’s not new for the athletes except this time it is taking place in their country (Seychelles) which will be an advantage, and they will not have to travel.”

The local federation is meeting this week to finalise the selection of athletes for the competition.