Cambodia’s bodybuilders came away with two silver and one bronze medals from an International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB) event in the Philippines on October 8, but the Kingdom’s past 2018 World Gold Medal winner Sombo Suphorn only managed a 7th place finish in the Men’s Physique category and a 5th place finish in the Classic Physique Open category.

At the October 8 competition, 40-year-old Vy Vuthy won silver medals in both Men’s Physique 40+ and Bodybuilding 40+, while Vireak Nyrayuth won the bronze medal in the Men’s Physique category.

After the competition, Suphorn said that he’s facing stiffer competition because he’s entering categories that will eventually qualify him to get a “pro card” and he’s challenging himself to take things to the next level.

“If I registered for the competition for newcomers, I may win almost all of the medals but I didn’t do that because I want to develop myself. I participated in the Open because I want the opportunity to go pro and the Open category is very difficult because the guys in that category are some of the best bodybuilders around,” he said.

Suphorn added that he tried hard prior to the IFBB competition to get himself where he needed to be to win and put a lot of effort into nutrition and keeping himself dry and dehydrated for a more sculpted look, but his efforts didn’t get the results he wanted this time – but he’s not giving up on getting his pro card.

“I am determined to get a pro card and that’s why I registered for the Open. If a Cambodian bodybuilder gets a pro card, we can ask the IFBB to come to Cambodia and hold a competition here, which will really advance the sport. We need to try hard, because we love competing and want this sport to grow,” he said.