Manipur man wins Mr World title in bodybuilding

Imphal, July 11: Dr Ngangbam Shantikumar Meetei was adjudged Mr World 2013 at a bodybuilding contest held at Zakynthos, Greece, under the aegis of International Natural Bodybuilding Associaltion (INBA) on July 7.

Dr Shantikumar, who is settled in Taipei in Taiwan, said he had won the medal for Manipur, his homeland, and dedicated it to parents and fellow Manipuris.

An emotional Dr Shantikumar said after achieving the feat that he would consider himself the luckiest man on earth if the people of Manipur acknowledged his victory and embrace him as their son for a few seconds. He said an urge to do something for Manipur always tormented him and the feat at Greece would calm his anxiety.

Besides bagging the gold in the 40-49 age group category, which has no height or weight limitation, Dr Shantikuamr also won silver in anothr category which has no age but height limitation. He was the only Asian/Mongoloid contestant among the 150 participants at the meet. He has won several titles including 'Mr Universe' and 'Mr Asia'. In April, he won the Taiwan National Body Building Championship 2013.

When asked to give a message to the aspiring youths of Manipur, Dr Shantikumar advised that young bodybuilders should not use drugs and steriods by seeing those who take it and instead follow a natural and healthy way to achieve heights.

Dr Shantikumar is an English professor at De Lin Institute of Technology, Taiwan. He is married ti a Taiwanese Chinese citizen and they have four children. He would come to Imphal with his family on July 27.

OneIndia news