Karuppanan Venkatesan belongs to a different breed!
This bodybuilder, who thrives on only vegetarian diet and not even milk, has done himself and the country proud by winning a silver medal in the Natural Olympia Bodybuilding Championship in Las Vegas.
This event was exclusively for those competitors, who thrive only on vegetarian diet!
This 39-year-old Venkatesan from the city, who earns a livelihood by being personal trainer to a select few, has in fact represented India in the last edition and finished fourth. This time around, a more confident Venkatesan richer by that last year’s experience was actually gunning for the winner’s purse of Rs. 25 lakh. “Ï am disappointed at missing the gold. but at the same time pleased with the silver. It is the result of months of hard work despite all odds,” says Venkatesan.
What is so special about this event? “Well, this event was organised by International Natural Bodybuilding Association which is dedicated to promoting drug-free bodybuilding competitions both at national and international levels,” reminds this former ‘Mr. India’, who competed in the 34-40 years age group.
“The competition was tough, but my confidence was high since I had a feel of what it would be by virtue of taking part in the last year’s edition. I worked really hard on my fitness,” says Venkatesan, whose trip was also possible because of financial help from the Navayuga Engineering Group.
“This is a totally different kind of competition which requires lot of areas for focus. For instance, my diet is only samba wheat and no rice and not even milk,” he says.
Venkatesan, who migrated from Madurai to the city, was the only Indian competitor in the last edition and is also a graduate in Philosophy and Religion from Kamaraj University. “I just wanted to be back with a medal and I am glad I have realised by first objective,” he signs off.
