Accra, Nov 15, GNA - Mr Abdul-Hayye Yartey, Chairman of the Ghana Bodybuilding and Fitness Association (GBFA) has said the 2007 National Bodybuilding Championship will be biggest ever in the history of the competition, judging from the level of patronage it has received from across the country.

The championship is fixed for November 23, at the Osu Presbyterian Hall.

Mr Yartey said this year's event will have 28 bodybuilders drawn from the Southern and the Northern sectors of the country who will be competing for honours in what has been dubbed "the Battle of Gladiators".

He told the GNA Sports that the bodybuilders are motivated that the competition would also serve as a justify-your-inclusion into the national team, adding that each competitor is determined to pick one of the nine slots in the national team.

According to Mr Yartey, the 28 bodybuilders will be grouped into Light, Middle and Heavyweight categories out of which the top three from each division would vie for the ultimate. Mr Yartey said the success of the championship would create

pave an enabling path for the development of the sport in the

country. He called on all lovers of the sport to fill the Osu Presbyterian

Hall to lend their support towards the development of the sport. Samuel "Obuor" Asante who is the defending champion is

expected to come up against tough opposition from the likes of

Mustapha Richardson, Cornelius Ankrah and Christopher Antoh

among others. A flat rate of 30,000 (3GHC) and 50, 000 (5GHC) cedis

would charged at the gates.