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Fiji Time: 9:44 PM on Friday 24 May

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Mr Suva sets sights on elusive Fiji crown

Arin Kumar
Tuesday, September 25, 2012

MR Suva, Qali Ritova has set his sights on defending the title in the heavyweight category when he competes in the National Bodybuilding Championship next weekend.

He also wants to win the Mr Fiji title that has eluded him for the past five years.

Hailing from Nasoso in Nadi, Ritova has been competing since 2008 and has emerged in the top three in numerous competitions since then.

In his first year, he won bronze in the Mr Fiji competition and then won two respective silvers.

The 28-year-old won gold in the the Mr Suva and Mr Buksh competitions in 2009 and 2010.

Last year, he only won Mr Suva and won silver and bronze respectively in the Mr Fiji and Mr Buksh competitions.

He said he had dropped in form last year but has trained hard to get into top shape for the nation.

"I have been training very hard to try and get my form back and I believe I am ready for gold now," Ritova said.

"I respect the other bodybuilders in the competition but my aim has always been to win gold and I want to win this competition as well," he said.

He said he would face tough competition from all competitors including one he has been training with at the YMCA gym in Suva for the past few years.

"Tasi Biliwaqa is young, upcoming builder and he will be tough competition as I have been training him to be like I was during my peak.

"The other builders will also be gunning for the win because everyone trains to win gold so I wish all the competitors the best for the competition," Ritova said.

The nationals will be held on September 29 at the FNU Namaka campus in Nadi.

The competition will be used to select a team to compete in the South Pacific Bodybuilding Championships that will be held in the Cook Islands in November.