Bodybuilder Pham Van Mach, the seven-time Asian champion, says he will continue pursuing a singing career after adding another gold medal to his trophy collection, an achievement that helped extinguish public accusations that he was too busy singing to adequately practice the sport. Mach, 36, snatched a men’s 55kg gold at the 46th Asian Bodybuilding Championships that concluded Sunday in Guangzhou, China. The trophy helped him match the seven-title record long held by veteran bodybuilder Ly Duc. Mach says the gold medal in China has a particularly significant meaning to him, even more so than the two world championships he has won.The appeal of showbiz It all began with the singing reality show “Cap Doi Hoan Hao,” a Vietnamese adaptation of Britain’s “Just the Two of Us” TV series, where Mach was paired with teenage singer Van Mai Huong to compete with nine other duos. “People say my bodybuilding career ended after I participated in the TV show,” says Mach, who wowed local audiences during the show, which aired last year, by showing that he not only knows how to strengthen his muscles, but also how to sing beautifully. After winning the audience’s heart in his debut performance, Mach continued to attract local media headlines with other non-sport activities. He posed for fashion magazines, signed contracts to sing at events, and even appeared in a movie where he was on screen for less than a minute and spoke just one sentence.

Pham Van Mach poses for a fashion photo on a men's magazine.

Mach apparently attempted to join show business and failed, leaving him bitter. Mach left the World Bodybuilding Championships in late 2011 with empty hands as he failed to compete in his favorite men’s 55kg event due to being overweight at 60kg. The lover of singing was immediately criticized for neglecting his training after the TV show. “I used to win the world championship, but lost everything after the show,” he says, while admitting that he did neglect the training. “I had to choose between the two: toning my muscles or bettering my voice. “And I decided to fulfill my duty at the reality show,” he admits. However, Mach presses that he did not deserve such criticism. “I should have been consoled by encouragement from the fans. “Now that I have won the Asian gold medal again, it proves that I’m still pursuing bodybuilding, and that I will never let anything destroy my 20-year career,” he says.A bodybuilder who sings After winning the Asian gold medal, Mach says he will continue taking up vocal and dancing lessons to have “better performance.” “I’m a bodybuilder, and not adequately trained to be a singer,” he says, adding that his singing effort is just to bring more colors to life.

Pham Van Mach sings in a duet with teenager singer Van Mai Huong in the Cap Doi Hoan Hao reality show.

Asked what he prefers to be addressed as, a bodybuilder or a singer, he says, “I’d love to be called a bodybuilder who sings. It’s an interesting noun, and it does reflect my profession and hobby.” The singer-bodybuilder says he has been invited to sing at some events, and he “has no reason to reject.” As for what to do after the Asian championship, Mach says he needs time to think. “I have three paths to follow: doing business at my bodybuilding practice center, pursuing the singing career, or continuing with my sport.” He also revealed that he may release an album by the end of this year, to “mark my singing time.”

Pham Van Mach's performance at the debut show of Cap Doi Hoan Hao