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IFBB Europa Battle of Champions This Weekend

June 28, 2012

The IFBB Europa Battle of Champions comes to Hartford, Connecticut this weekend as Men’s and Women’s Bodybuilding take center stage. The contest will be held in conjunction with the NPC Battle of Champions and the Europa Get Fit & Sports Expo.

WHAT: IFBB Europa Battle of Champions
WHEN: Friday & Saturday, June 29-30
WHERE: Connecticut Convention Center, Hartford CT
SCHEDULE: Prejudging at 3 pm on Friday; Finals at 3:30 pm on Saturday
FOR MORE INFO: Go here

MEN’S BODYBUILDING

Rookie standout Juan Morel competes for the second time as an IFBB Professional. Morel, the Overall winner from the 2011 NPC North Americans, placed fourth in his pro debut at the New York Pro in May. That lineup was deeper than what he’ll face in Connecticut, but there are several intriguing story lines this weekend – primarily which version of Essa Obiad will show up.

Obiad hit the ground running in 2010 by winning the Overall at the Arnold Amateur and following that up with a win at the Europa Super Show. Since then, though, it’s been all downhill for Obiad, as he failed to place in two of his four appearances in 2011.

Iran’s Baito Abbaspour enters clinging to the No. 3 spot in the Olympia Qualification Series thanks to two top-five finishes earlier this year at FIBO Power (4th) and the Mr. Europe Pro (3rd). With three points apiece, Morel and Grigori Atoyan both sit just outside the top five in a tie for seventh in the standings.

WOMEN’S BODYBUILDING

It’s the third contest of the year in the division and the Olympia Qualification Series is wide open – particularly at this contest, where none of the competitors have accumulated any points in the OQS. Two competitors – Helle Nielsen and Monique Jones – competed in last year’s Olympia and enter as the frontrunners here.

Jones, a second-year pro, has two top-five placings on her resume – including her runner-up finish here a year ago. She placed 9th at last year’s Olympia.

Last year was the second Olympia for Nielson, but her first since 2003 when she cracked the top-five in her Olympia debut. A back injury forced her out of competition until last year, when she returned to win the FIBO Power before placing 14th at the Olympia.

COMPETITOR LISTS

MEN’S BODYBUILDING