Asian & World Bodybuilding & Physique Sports Championships - in pictures

Backstage tanning lotion is applied in order to show off the bodybuilders' muscle definition under the harsh lights on stage Photograph: Rungroj Yongrit/EPA

With rollering being the best method to get even coverage, here it is Iran's Mohammad Allamehzadeh turn for the roller Photograph: Rungroj Yongrit/EPA

A good rolling job was applied to Allamehzadeh as there's plenty of definition on show as he poses for the judges in the men's athletes physique 170cm+3kg category Photograph: Rungroj Yongrit/EPA

Here's some of his competitors in that category Photograph: Rungroj Yongrit/EPA

Looking good? South Korea's Kim Jae Wook gets in some last minute training backstage Photograph: Rungroj Yongrit/EPA

He then trains a different set of muscles as Jang Hee Seong practises his poses in the mirror Photograph: Rungroj Yongrit/EPA

Contestants in the men's 60 kg show off their back muscles to the judges Photograph: Pornchai Kittiwongsakul/AFP/Getty Images

The contenders in the men's 75kg category tense their abs Photograph: Apichart Weerawong/AP

The contestants in the men's 85kg category employ different facial expressions as they flex Photograph: Pornchai Kittiwongsakul/AFP/Getty Images

Nicoletta Castelnuovo of Italy chats with her compatriot Patricia Pozzi, left, as a member of the middle east team gets 40 winks backstage Photograph: Rungroj Yongrit/EPA

Natalia Lukashevich of Singapore displays her back muscles during the women's model physique +165 cm category Photograph: Apichart Weerawong/AP

Fellow competitor Li Lin of China strikes a pose Photograph: Rungroj Yongrit/EPA

The contestants leave the stage after strutting their stuff for the judges Photograph: Rungroj Yongrit/EPA

You Mi Hee of South Korea prepares herself ahead of competing in women's bodybuilding up to 49kg category Photograph: Rungroj Yongrit/EPA

Wilyporn Wannaklang flexes her muscles as she practises backstage before competing in the 52kg category Photograph: Rungroj Yongrit/EPA

Hong Kong's Cheng Lai Sho Lisa shows her flexibility in the fitness physique +165cm category Photograph: Rungroj Yongrit/EPA

Competitors in the men's master 41-to-50-year-old category flex for the judges Photograph: Apichart Weerawong/AP

Iran's Abbas Bakhtari flexes his muscles for the judges in the men's +51-year-old category Photograph: Apichart Weerawong/AP

All the +51-year-old competitors pose Photograph: Apichart Weerawong/AP

All that holding of the pose proves too much for Reza Rezaei Jafari of Iran as he grimaces and is treated by a stage official after getting a cramp Photograph: Apichart Weerawong/AP