Online Reporter
Tendai Chara-Zimpapers Sports Hub
MARK “Big Mark” Vassilatos beat a regional field to win the Alex Classics Senior Men’s Body-building title at 7 Arts Theatre in Harare on Saturday.
Vassilatos pocketed US$6 000 after finishing ahead of Zambia’s William “The Machine” Sichone, who took home US$4 000.
The winner’s prize was initially set at US$5 000 before it was increased on the eve of the competition.
“Hard work finally paid off. The competition was tight, but I am happy that I managed to impress the judges and win,” Vassilatos said.
The decision by leading Zimbabwean body-builders Gedion Teguru and Noah Dzvokora to sit out the main competition also attracted attention.
The pair attended the event but only took part in an exhibition.
Sources within the body-building community claimed divisions among local federations may have influenced their decision. Neither Teguru nor Dzvokora provided a clear explanation for sitting out the main contest.
Tournament organiser Henry Hakulandaba was pleased with the turnout at the third edition of the competition.
“The number of people attending is increasing every year,” he said.
“This tournament has grown into one of the biggest in Southern Africa. We had about 15 foreign participants, and to us that means a lot.”
