By Mohammed Siddique, TwoCircles.net,
Hyderabad : In a rare honor, a body builder from Hyderabad is leading the 14 member Indian team at the World Body Building Championship at Las Vegas in USA starting from today. Mir Mohtesham Ali Khan, winner of several titles in the country will be contesting for the Mr. World title in the heavy weight category of 90 kg plus.
Before leaving for the US, Mohtashem told the reporters in Hyderabad that he was going with the hope and confidence of brining laurels to the country. “The record of Indian contestants at the international body building contest has not been too impressive in the past. I hope to improve it and bring laurels to our country”, he said.
Premchand Degra was the only Indian to win the Mr. Universe title in 1988. Manohar Aitch and Mantosh Roy were the other winner of different tiles but Indians drew blank during the last two decades. 30 year old Mohtesham said that he will try his best to put an end to the drought.
30 year old Mohtesham, who exercises for four and a half hour every day and whose diet costs him Rs 1200 per day, rued that the body building does not get as much encouragement and patronage in India as in the other countries including the USA. “it is a good sports which encourages the youth to stay healthy and fit. It should be encouraged and made a passion for the youth”, he said.
6.2 feet tall Mohtesham’s diet include one kg chicken, 30 boiled eggs, 12 oranges, 250 gram oatmeal, and other fruits and vitamin powder. He said that he was strongly averse to the use of any steroids and never used them in his life. He is the first body builder from Andhra Pradesh to be named the captain of Indian team by the Indian Body Building Federation.
Mohtesham who works in the Indian Railways is bearing his own expenses of about Rs 3 lakh to participate in the prestigious events. “No body offered any sponsorship. Only the Hyderabad district collector has extended help by bearing the ticket expenses to and from the US”, he said.
The long list of Mohtesham’s achievements includes winning the bronze at the Mr. India competition. He is also the thrice winner of Mr South India title, 8 time winner of Mr. South Central Railways, nine time winner of Mr AP and 8 time winner of Mr. Hyderabad.