Saudi Gazette report

JEDDAH – Saudi Arabia's Amal Baatia has won the bronze medal in the International Pull-Up Championship held in Finland recently beating more than 20 competitors from Brazil, Argentina, Poland, Finland, Denmark and Spain.

Speaking to Okaz/Saudi Gazette, Baatia said: “The World Pull-Up Organization contacted me in January 2019. I was then nominated to take part in the championship held in Finland last month. At the start, I was quite hesitant whether I should go through the experience or not. I sent the required details to them and they informed me on the conditions for taking part in the championship, including nutrition and exercise. I started preparing for the championship three months before its kick-off. It was a short time taking into consideration the importance of the championship, which always witnessed very stiff competition.”

Baatia stressed that she was the only female Arab participant in the championship. This propelled her to exert more efforts to achieve a good position through her first participation in an international

championship.

The two-day championship involved lifting one's body with the biggest possible weight. On the second day, the competition was to make the highest number of repetitions.

Baatia said: “I succeeded in winning the third position and the bronze medal. I was not expecting this achievement because of the stiff competition, as well as the advanced level of training and fitness of the other female competitors.”