By Mohammed Siddique, TwoCircles.net
Hyderabad: Mir Mohtashim Ali Khan, a Mr. World medal winner body builder from Hyderabad couldn’t continue his run at Mr. Universe competition beyond the 6th position.
33 year old Khan, a much acclaimed body building champion from Hyderabad, had led six member Indian team at the Mr. Universe competition currently on at Miami, Florida.
After successfully reaching the top ten in the heavy weight category, Mohtashim’s run ended and he secured 6th position.
“Yes we were hoping that he will repeat his success of Mr. World competition of last year but it did not happen. Any way it not less an honor that he participated in Mr. Universe event and became the sixth biggest body builder in the world”, said Mr. Yusuf Ali Khan, Mohtashim’s father.
Mohtashim who runs a chain of 11 gyms in the city and trains hundreds of youth, had participated in Muscle Mania Mr. Word competition at Las Vegas in November last and won Silver Medal.
Initially he had won bronze medal but the Chinese winner of silver medal was disqualified after he tested positive for the use of banned drug, elevating Mohtashim to second position in his 90+ kg category.
Six feet tall Mohtashim, a highly religious person sees former Mr. Universe Arnold Schwarzenegger as his idol in the field of body building and had hoped to achieve his feat by winning the title.
“I am confident of success as I have worked very hard”, Mohtashim had told media before leaving for the competition. “The mass on the body does not win you marks. The cuts win you more mark and no body can match me as far as the cuts on my stomach are concerned. I have my unique style of moving my stomach”, he said.
Anjan Kumar Yadav, the Congress member of Parliament from Secunderabad, a wrestler and a neighbor of Mohtashim had announced a financial assistance of Rs 100,000 to enable Mohtashim to compete in Mr. Universe.
“he is a symbol of Hindu Muslim unit, a pride for the city, our state and our country”, Yadav said.
Mohtashim, who works in Indian Railways was given a promotion and Rs five lakh reward by the then Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav. However the government of Andhra Pradesh was yet to recognize his achievement or reward him.