Mangaluru: District Minister in-charge, B Ramanath Rai held a press meet at the DC Office here, on January 14.
Ramanath Rai launched the sticker for the ‘64th National Amateur Body Building and Fitness Championship – 2016.’ The championship will be held at the Nehru Maidan on February 12 and 13.
Speaking to the mediapersons, Ramanth Rai said, “Dakshina Kannada has given the most number of body builders to the nation than any other district. It is an opportunity to the people of the district to watch a body building event closely. I am the Honorary President for the welcome committee.”
National General Secretary, Naidu said, “So far many contestants have registered from the North Eastern region. Body builders who are contesting for the first time will contend for the title of ‘Bharat Uday’. ‘Bharat Kishore’ will be contested by body builders below the age of 21. ‘Bharat Kumar’ is for body builders up to the age of 24 and ‘Bharat Shree’ for those who are above 24 years old. For the older generation of body builders, that is body builders above the age of 40, the title ‘Bharat Kesari,’ is up for grabs.”
He said that ‘Mr. Fitness’ was another title the contestants can contest for. It will be open both for men and women with contestants from four categories, short, medium, tall and super tall.
The two day event will host more than 250 body builders from 29 states. The District will spend Rs 25 lakh for the event. The coastal district has given the nation the title of ‘Mr. World’ (Raymond D’Souza) and various other body builders who have won the Ekalavya and Rajyotsava Awards.
MLC Ivan D’Souza said, “The event will be telecasted live by Doordarshan.” He said that Mangaluru is known for the many body builders it had given to the nation and Karnataka was the champion in the last years body building championship held in Maharastra. 25 stalls by gym and fitness centers will be put up to display various fitness equipment and body building products.
Raymond D’Souza said, “The number of people who come to watch body building is high. We had earlier thought of holding the event in the Town Hall, but then decided to host the event at the Nehru Maidan, which can accommodate a lot more people.”
DC AB Ibrahim said, “It is nice that the city is hosting the championship. Body building is a sport that does not require a lot of money to host.”
Speaking about the illegal sand mining, Ibrahim said that many cases of illegal inter-state sand smuggling were reported. Sand mining is banned and only traditional sand miners will be given permits to extract sand from the river beds. “It must be clear to all that permits are given only to traditional miners, but they can employ people from different parts of the country,” Ibrahim said when asked about laborers from Bihar and other north Indian states.
Mayor, Jacintha Vijay Alfred, MUDA Chairman, Ibrahim Kodijal and various body builders from the district were also present.
