Krishna Kanta in Cooch Behar on Monday. Picture by Main Uddin Chisti

Cooch Behar, June 17: Krishna Kanta Sarkar today started off from his village in Cooch Behar to take part in a competition in Miami, US, that can see him emulate Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The youth from Harirhat in Tufanganj is off to represent India in the World Amateur Bodybuilding Championships (65kg and below) organised by the International Federation of Bodybuilders (IFBB). It will be held in Miami on June 19-20. Hollywood action hero and the current governor of California, Schwarzenegger, had won the overall title at the competition in 1969, when it was known as IFBB Mr Universe.

Krishna Kanta, whose father Dharani is a day labourer, became Mr India in 2007. Now, he is after the biggest crown in the world as part of a 17-member team from India.

“I am really happy that I am one of those who will represent the country there. I had been dying to get a crack at the world championship,” Krishna Kanta said.

Bhabesh Chandra Roy, a resident of Cooch Behar and the secretary of the North Bengal Bodybuilding Association, has been selected as the coach of the Indian team. Krishna Kanta and Roy boarded the Saraighat Express from Cooch Behar for Calcutta today. They will go to Mumbai tomorrow and leave for the US with the national team.

Krishna Kanta, who has a younger brother and a sister, grew up at his maternal uncle’s house and studied up to Higher Secondary. “My son has been keen on bodybuilding since his childhood,” Dharani said.

Bibhu Ranjan Saha, a well-known bodybuilder from Cooch Behar, said Krishna Kanta was an inspiration to budding bodybuilders of the town. “I believe he will put up a strong performance at the Miami meet,” Saha said.