Imphal, July 3: Six bodybuilders from Manipur, including two women, have been chosen by the Indian Fitness and Body Building Federation to represent the country at two international events in South Korea and Mongolia this year.
But before they take on athletes from around the world, they must first overcome a financial trial.
The six bodybuilders, Laitonjam Rishikanta, Dinesh Singh, Indira Singh, Jupiter Singh, Sarita Devi and Rebita Devi, were selected for various weight classes after a trial in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, on June 25. Twelve bodybuilders, shortlisted by the All Manipur Gymnasium Welfare Association, had participated in the trial.
The bodybuilders are scheduled to compete at the 51st Asian Body Building and Physique Sports Championship, 2017, that will be held in Seoul, South Korea, from August 22-28 and at the ninth World Body Building and Physique Sports Championship, 2017, in Ulan Bator, Mongolia, from October 2-9.
To compete in the South Korean event alone will cost around Rs 1.5 lakh and this has left the Manipuri bodybuilders, their family members and coaches worried. They have appealed for financial assistance and even sought help from the state government.
Laitonjam Rishikanta, who won the Junior Mr India title in the 70kg category in 2015, told The Telegraph, "This is a rare chance for me as it will be my first international exposure and I am raring to go all out for the best result. However, though I have been receiving blessing from all sides, my family's financials are not so sound, it hits me every time."
Rishikanta hails from Patsoi Part IV in Imphal West and started bodybuilding at Kanglei Body Builders Gym, Tera Sapam Leirak, under coach S. Joychandra Singh in 2013.
The Patsoi Taomang Rising Club is even going around and appealing for donations to muster funds for Rishikanta - who along with coach, Joychandra, has also appealed to Manipur chief minister Nongthombam Biren Singh for financial help.
Rishikanta used to be a Nata Sankritana artiste and took up bodybuilding against the initial reservations of his family. His family came around when Rishikanta bagged fourth place in a state-level bodybuilding competition just 40 days after he began going to the gym.
So far, Rishikanta has won 22 medals, including 17 gold, in 26 competitions in the past five years.
