The 53rd edition of the Asian Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships are due to begin in Harbin tomorrow ©IFBB

The 53rd edition of the Asian Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships are due to begin in Harbin tomorrow.

Competition in the Chinese city is scheduled to be spread across four days, concluding on Monday (July 29). 

The Championships will double as an International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB) World Elite Ranking event and IFBB Elite Pro Qualifier.

They feature men's bodybuilding, men's classic bodybuilding, men's fitness, women's bodyfitness, women's bodybuilding and women's bikini fitness, with 26 titles to be awarded.

Mongolia's capital Ulaanbaatar hosted last year's edition of the Asian Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships ©IFBB
Mongolia's capital Ulaanbaatar hosted last year's edition of the Asian Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships ©IFBB

Athletes from China and Iran claimed several gold medals at last year's Asian Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships in Mongolia's capital Ulaanbaatar.

China came out on top in the opening session of the competition with seven gold medals in a variety of fitness categories at both senior and junior level.

The second session saw Iran claim six gold medals in the men's bodybuilding category with events ranging from under-55 kilograms to over-100kg.

Iran also swept the podium in the overall bodybuilding final thanks to excellent performances from Majid Jamehbozorg, Mohammed H. Taha and Ali Salim Jasim.