Premchand Degra is an angry man. India’s “Mr. Universe” (Middle weight class) feels that the nation has coldshouldered his superb feat achieved early this year, “T brought laurels for Hindustan through my own siead fast efforts over the past many ‘years. But Tam not treated as other sportsmen are,” complained the muscular marvel at the recent senior national body building, championship at Madras.
Premchand was streetsa head of other sin the championship. At the end, after a siarring performance, he said, I will not compete any more at the national level. In fact, I don’t propose 10 compete in any competition in India, Because I don’t want 10 stand in the way of promising youngsters.”
Hailing from an agricultural family in Punjab, Premchand by winning the Mr. Universe tell early this year followed in the footsteps of other all-time greats in Indian body building Monotosh Roy and Manohar Aich. Both of them had won the Mr. Universe title in the short class. Prem: chand is a self taught body builder who switched over from wresiling. Later he took ‘guidance from Aich whose well equipped gym he used frequently.
“The Government of India gave cash rewards to several sporispersons who had distinguished themselves in the international field. But it has done nothing for me ‘except honoring me with the Arjuna Award in 1986. approached Mrs. Margaret Alwa who is in charge of sports and pleaded my case, But I got a reply that because body building is not an Olympic sport the Ministry could do nothing. Then how come Indian stars who excelled in billiards and chess also non-Olympic sports were rewarded by the Government,” asked Premchand.
“In what way is my fear less important than those of others when the sport of body building (best physique) is recognized the world over in about 140 countries? I won the ttle in one of the strongest competitions ever. No Indian has ever won the Mr. India title seen times, Mr. Asia ttle five times and a silver (1986) and a gold medal in the world.
Premchand’s sights are now surned on the “Mr. Olympiad tile, the toughest and the highest level of competition in this sport, coming up in September. “Finance is a big problem to go abroad and participate. 1 have had such problems before while taking partin the Asian championships. [hope the Government of India will come to my help.” Premchand wants to go to America where the best facilites for training are available. Premchand was the cynosure of all eyes at Madras. Old timers had nostalgic mem ories of the feats of Kamal Bhandari, T.J. Mathai, Janardhana Rao, V.P. Chand, Borogohain when Premchand came on lage for the final pose down. Atfive feet six inches he weighs between 70 to 80 kgs, His arms measure 18 inches neck 17% inches and calf 17 inches, Classic proportions. As Wing Commander T.J. Mathai Secretary of the Air Force Control Board (New Delhi) and chairman of the judges at the national championships put it the gap between Premchand and others was 100 wide. Six time national title winner, Mathai now, 55, Is the senior vice president of the Indian Body Building Federation (IBBF) ‘and an international judge.
The sport of body building is a passion with Mathai. In the old days, he said, body building was under the All India Weight lifting Federation which used to hold the best physique contest for the “Mr. India” title. Then the competition was conducted according to the height of the participants tall, medium and short. The format was changed in 1973 when body building was separated from weightlifting and the IBBF was recognized by the government.
The tile name of “Mr. India” was changed to “Bharat Shree”. The pattern also changed and the competition came to be “conducted on weight category, starting with five classes bantam (65 kgs), light (70) middle (85) light heavy (90) and heavy (above 90) One more weight welter (75) was added in the 80’s and from this year the championship was held in eight categories the new weights being fly (60) and light middle (80).
The winners are declared through visual comparisons in each class based on symmetrical and proportionate development of the body and the muscular development. Every competitor will have three rounds. The first: seven compulsory poses; second: anatomical assessment (relaxed position) ‘and the third optional posing in which the competitor has the discretion to improvise and innovate.
‘According to Mathai body building is an expensive sport. “It is a specialized discipline. Most of the money is spent on diet. A bod) builder should lead a disciplined life ‘and one can make the grade only with utmost dedication. Daily training is a must
Premchand puts in six hours of training every day. He avoids spicy food, eats six eggs a day one roast chicken, lots of fruits and vegetables and drinks two liters of milk.
Article extracted from this publication >> June 23, 1989
