Times Of Swaziland: ITALY INVITE FOR BARBOSA

ITALY INVITE FOR BARBOSA
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Melusi Mkhabela on 14/02/2024 15:30:00


MBABANE – Barbosa is setting the bar high.
Renowned bodybuilders Arnaldo Barbosa and Kiky Santos look destined for greater
heights, after securing invitations to the prestigious Mister and Miss Universe
Competition set to take place in Rende, Italy. This invitation marks
Eswatini’s most accomplished bodybuilders’ continued success in pushing the
boundaries of the sporting code. The competition, scheduled for July 13 and 14,
2024 at Hotel Europa in Rende, Italy, will see registration for all athletes on
July 13 from 3pm to 8pm. The natural competition is set to commence on July 14
from 10am to 12:30pm, followed by the amateurs’ competition at 3pm. The United
Intercontinental Bodybuilding Fitness Federation (UIBFF) conveyed the details of
the event in an invitational letter.
“We hereby inform you that Mister and Miss Universe Competition, both Natural
and Amateur and final Pro will take place on July 13-14, 2024 at Hotel Europa in
Rende (Italy),” reads part of the invitation letter from the UIBFF.
Expressing his gratitude for the invitation, Barbosa was humbled by the special
recognition, particularly as no Southern Africa athlete received a similar
invitation. He highlighted the stringent qualification process. Additionally, he
underscored the significance of his affiliation with the UIBFF as a straight
ticket to the World Cup. “It is my first time being affiliated with this
federation and I feel like it is a huge honour for me to be invited by them.
Getting an invitation to such competitions is not easy; it is like automatically
qualifying for the World Cup, without playing the qualifying round of the
competition,” expressed Barbosa.
Impressive
Furthermore, Kiky Santos, Barbosa’s partner, also received an invitation from
the UIBFF. Santos, known for her impressive fifth place finish in the Physical
Culture Association (PCA) World Championships in Spain, Malaga, is only in her
third year of active competition, demonstrating the dedication and effort both
athletes have contributed to gain global recognition. Notably, the
Professional’s category offers a substantial prize of E82 023.20 (4 000
Euros), serving as a significant incentive for athletes competing in this
category.