2024 Arnold Classics World Bodybuilding Championship

Feb 29th-March 3rd, 2024.

Columbus, Ohio- USA.

Uganda’s bodybuilder Yakub Bin Hassan ‘Mr Ten Packs’ has vowed to leave a mark at this year’s Arnold Classics World Bodybuilding Championship.

The Meilin Hotel-sponsored muscleman tops the list of African bodybuilders who will compete at this year’s Championship.

The Arnold Classics is one of the world's prestigious bodybuilding championships renamed after the legendary movie actor and former bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger.

This year’s Arnold Classics are slated for February 29 and March 3, at the Great Columbus Invention Centre in Columbus State, Ohio in the United States.

And Yakub, a 2021 men’s physique gold medalist at the Mr. Uganda Bodybuilding Championship and 2022 Africa Mr. Physique middleweight champion at the South Africa Bodybuilding Championship is confident of defying all the odds in the US.

“I have sacrificed my life to earn a ticket to this year’s Arnold Classics. I have abstained from sex with my wife for almost a year to concentrate on my training. Finally, my dream is here,” Yakub told Vision Sports before flying out of the country.

“My target is not to be seen as a tourist. I have trained well and my sponsors at the Meilin Hotel have fed me well. I’m more than ready and have no excuses.”

Big Money Awaits Yakub;

This year’s Arnold Classics will attract over 12,000 competitors in the different categories which will also include powerlifting, weightlifting, Arm wrestling, and bodybuilding.

But all eyes will be directed at the unimaginable prize money at stake to all champions from the different categories.

Overall $10m will be awarded to the different winners as prize money.

And Yakub, who during the COVID-19 lockdown was among the sportsmen who publicly cried for financial assistance may return home with a whooping $100,000 which is equivalent to sh360m if he can prevail and lift the crown in his weight class.

“I have already received $2,000 given to every qualified competitor. My focus now is to win the $100,000 and change my life for once. Just know impossible is nothing. Who knew that I would even qualify and compete on such a big stage?”

Francis Mjomba, the general manager of Meilin Hotel concurs that Yakub can upset everyone and beat his opponents to the gong.

Since 1989, The Arnold Classics has been every bodybuilder’s dream to showcase their talent.

USA, Boston-based Roy Mubiru is another Ugandan who has previously competed in this World Championship and is hopeful to be among the competitors once again.