Pakistan's Abdul Majeed becomes Mr Universe
"I have been working on this for so many years, it was my lifelong dream," says the IT professional turned bodybuilder Abdul Majeed as he bagged two gold medals and the Mr. Universe title at the World Fitness Federation, Mr. Universe, 2024 event that took place in Las Vegas.
Abdul got his pro card to become a professional bodybuilder with the two gold medals he won in the open masters and super extreme categories, respectively.
He had initially started on a local level with Core Karachi Gym, but he built his reputation as being one of the most dedicated fitness professionals and simultaneously kept up his journey as a bodybuilder and competing in events.
There have been years behind becoming Mr. Universe, achieving the two gold medals and the pro card as winning in Las Vegas was no mean feat with competitors from 42 countries present between October 19 and 20.
Abdul's journey includes becoming Mr. Karachi in 2014, then Mr. Pakistan in 2020, endless sessions of training, and juggling several jobs while trying to achieve his dream.
"Getting a pro card is every bodybuilder's dream, for this event I had been working hard for six months," Abdul told this correspondent. "There were several challenges, it was expensive as well, and I have managed all of that on my own. But it was my dream.
"Overall I was very happy when I won my medals, I just grabbed the Pakistani flag and I was crying, and I took pictures and videos as they told me to, but when they announced my name I was so happy, I finally fulfilled my lifelong dream, I was overwhelmed. It is a huge achievement and it was challenging with such amazing talent from 42 countries."
Abdul is now settled in Dubai as he works there and he added that he had been supported by the World Fitness Federation Pakistan, which helped him represent Pakistan.
He said that there were two other bodybuilders who represented Pakistan in Las Vegas and one got a gold while the other a silver medal.
Unity is the key to the Pak bodybuilding community
How bodybuilding has changed as a sport in Pakistan? Abdul said that not having one uniform platform is a main challenge for the athletes.
There are several bodybuilding associations and integratioj into one would help regulate the sport better.
"In terms of bodybuilding in Pakistan, there is so much talent, we have no unity when we see other countries all the athletes come under one federation, but in Pakistan, we don't have that, I would love to see all the federation coming under one umbrella and this is how we can improve further," said Mr. Pakistan 2020.
He said that he wants to give back to the coummunity too now that he is in a poistion to so do with the feat in Las Vegas.
"I can help Pakistani bodybuilders with their journeys. I have a pro card now I want to help other players to get on to this level and pursue their goals, and achieve their dreams and get pro cards and represent Pakistan at the international level," concluded Abdul.