My fondness towards the island nation is growing: Suniel Shetty

Manama : Bahrain as a ‘sporting nation’ is amazing, said Bollywood actor Suniel Shetty, who is in Bahrain to promote Brave9: The Kingdom of Champions. 

The actor, who worked in more than 110 films, predominantly, in the Bollywood, told DT News that his “fondness towards the island nation is growing”. 

This is also the second time Shetty is visiting Bahrain in a month. His last visit was to the Arabian Cricket Carnival T20 2017 organised by the Bahrain Cricket Centre (BCC).

“I see Bahrain in a completely different light after my visits,” he told DT News.  “I am thoroughly impressed by the Kingdom and its people”. 

“I know that you have got the car rally that is going on, you have the Ironman, the strongman and the Ironwomen that are coming up.  So I think it’s turning out to be a sporting nation. Where ever there is a sport, the world follows,” he said.

“In India, I see the sport (of MMA) gathering popularity. Bahrain being so close in proximity, very soon you will see a lot of Indian people coming here.”

Shetty was highly impressed by the open workout session of the Brave 9 Kingdom of Champions at the Avenues mall. “It was brilliant, outstanding world-class performance. I was really impressed.”

“I expected it to be big but didn’t expect it to be this big. The quality of the fighters, the entire organisation and the ambience itself was fantastic.”

He said his interest in martial arts grew after taking up kickboxing decades ago. “I used to fight, when I took up kickboxing, as MMA was not a thing back then.”

“MMA is the most advanced kind of fighting,” he said adding: “It’s an explosive sport and a lot of stamina is required.” 

“Its one of the best there is.” 

Speaking about his reaction to Floyd Mayweather v Conor McGregor, he said, “Floyd had a big advantage because of being a boxer.” 

“The kicks were restricted, the grapple was restricted, so that is why we have such a result. If it was the other way around, the result would have been different,” he said. 

When asked if he sees himself coming back to Bahrain, Shetty said, “One hundred percent, definitely.”