Chronicle Editor
Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
DECEMBER proved to be a fruitful month for Bulawayo female bodybuilder, Shantel Bhatch as she did well in the two competitions she took part in locally as well as outside the country.
The 35-year-old won gold at the Harare Classic on 4 December Zimbabwe College of Music when she took home the bikini open. Last Saturday, Bhatch won the bikini wellness at Summer Super Bodies held at Marks Park Sports Club in Johannesburg, South Africa.
While in Harare she only had to see off the challenge of Lynette Tom to walk away with US$500 as well as a trophy, in South Africa, the challenge was bigger as she had faced off against five other competitors. Sadly, there were no monetary prizes as all she got was a trophy and supplements.
Bhatch actually had no plans of competing in 2019 as she hurt her back at the start of this year. She toned her body from July and had plans to end that in September after her birthday but she decided to continue.
“It feels really good, it’s a good way to end the year, I didn’t I would be able to compete. I hurt my back earlier this year. I actually wasn’t preparing to compete, I was just toning down.
I started toning down in July, was supposed to stop in September on my birthday, I saw the two shows then decided to compete. I felt ready for the two shows, that’s why I decided to compete,” Bhatch said.
Taking part in the two shows came with financial burden for Bhatch but she did have some form of support from well-wishers outside the country.
“Competing in these two shows was costly for me but I had support from a few people outside the country.”
At the age 35, the mother of two has no plans of retiring as yet as she plans to compete in years to come.
“Hopefully a lot more competing locally and outside the country. I am now affiliated with a team in South Africa called PHAT Boys, if I compete in South Africa I compete under their team,’’ Bhatch said.
Bhatch is one of the most decorated female bodybuilders in Zimbabwe having taken up bodybuilding in 2015. Over the years, she has won Ms Western, Ms Bulawayo, Ms Novice Zimbabwe, Ms Zimbabwe and Ms Ironman Zimbabwe.
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