Fitness! It’s a most sought after word in recent times, as the whole world has awakened to the importance of good health. In India too, awareness towards fitness, has been growing many fold. The increased number of fitness centres and gymnasiums, is the proof enough. Mumbai has produced number of body builders, who got recognition at national and international levels. Though body building is an expensive sport, probably costlier than cricket too, surprisingly plenty of body builders are product of small time ‘desi’ gymnasiums, devoid of fancy equipments. At an event to announce ‘Mumbai Shree’ (Men’s physique sports championship) and ‘Miss Mumbai’ (Women’s physique sports championship) to be held at Shyamkumar Thakur manoranjan maidan, Thakur complex, Kandivali east, the organisers, MSBBFA (Mumbai Suburban Body Building and Fitness Association) and GBBBA (Greater Bombay Body Builders’ Association), expressed their gratitude, towards these rustic ‘desi’ gyms for their contribution in the field of body building.
Body builders pose during the press conference
Shivtej Aarogya Seva Sanstha, which was represented by Siddhesh and Yogesh Ramdas Kadam, with the backing of Yuva Sena (Youth wing of Shiv Sena), are putting their best foot forward, by sponsoring this year’s body building competition and announced hefty sums for the winners for all the 8 categories. Also, the winner will be awarded a scholarship, taking care of every need of the winner to take part in national and international competitions.
Chief guest madhukar Talwalkar with the organisers
83 year old Madhukar Talwalkar, the ‘Bhishma Pitamah’ of body building, who looked much younger than his age, presided over the event. “Body building being costly and expensive sport, all of us should offer more financial support to the deserving candidates for vicissitudes,” he expressed enthusiastically, while interacting. Also office bearers of MSBBFA (Amol Kirtikar, Sunil Shegde)and GBBBA (Hemchandra Patil, Rajesh Sawant) stressed the earnest need, to garner more support to strengthen this skilled sport. The event witnessed a handful of body-builders, including a lady body builder, Shweta Rathore, posing for the benefits of cameras uninhibitedly.
This year’s body building event is gathering awesome support from participants and hence the organisers have decided to have a screening round, i.e. ‘Pre-Judging’ round, on a day before of the main event. The main event, Mumbai Shree and Miss Mumbai, is being held on 28th of February, 2016.