Gautam Kalita shows off his biceps

Idol: Schwarzenegger

Guwahati, Nov. 21: What do Gautam Kalita from Nagaon’s Panigaon and American actor-turned-politician Arnold Schwarzenegger have in common? Plenty. Both are musclemen and holders of world bodybuilding titles.

Like the Hollywood hunk, Kalita, who took up bodybuilding at the age of 20, Kalita trounced participants to become the champion in the bantam weight category in a high-profile contest organised by the sports channel ESPN last week. His win is more commendable because he won the title — Muscle Mania Mr World — in his very first attempt. The contest was held from November 15 to 17 in Los Angeles.

Now Kalita is looking to emulate his idol by vying for the Mr Universe title. Talking to The Telegraph from Mumbai on his way back home, Kalita today said his goal now was to go for the ultimate crown. Kalita, 31, is the first from the region to win such a global bodybuilding title.

Weighing 60 kg, the 5 feet 3 inch tall bodybuilder has a chest of 42 inches.

Kalita said he was satisfied with his achievement but could have put up a better performance had he got better nourishment and more time to prepare for the contest. “I was informed by the Indian Bodybuilding Federation only a month before the contest after which I worked out day and night to prepare myself for the contest. I am satisfied with what I have achieved with so little time for preparation.”

Like Schwarzenegger, a rickety teenager who took to bodybuilding at a tender age and became Mr Europe at the age of 19, Kalita, too, took to pumping iron to add a bit of muscle to his lanky physique some 10 years back.

The bodybuilding event is organised in four weight groups for men — light, bantam, middle and heavy.

A graduate, Kalita runs a gym — Nagaon Health Club — and a small factory producing gym equipment in his home town. Aspiring to be Mr World and Mr Universe, Kalita hoped his current crown would fetch enough money for a more nutritious diet.

“My diet is not rich enough for a world class bodybuilder. Nor can I afford the prescribed food supplements. I take 150 to 180 grams of animal protein every day which is not enough to take part in the Mr World and Mr Universe contests,” he said.

Like Mr India Bijit Gogoi, Kalita, too, faces the problem of dearth of sponsorship. “I don’t have any sponsors and cannot afford to finance my preparations with my limited income. I hope the state government will come forward after my latest achievement so that I can meet my expenses and bring more laurels to the state,” Kalita said.