HYDERABAD: The reigning Mr World, 26-year-old Dandem Laxman Reddy from the city, has been invited to the Musclemania World Pro Championship to be held between Nov 18 and 20 at Las Vegas, Neveda, USA. He is the only Indian sportsman to be invited for the mega event being organized by the American Sports Network Inc. The championship will be telecast worldwide by ESPN and Star Sports Asia. “Winners of major tournaments across the world participate in this tournament and I am invited as I am the present Mr World,” says a proud Laxman Reddy. Winner of numerous prestigious titles, including Mr. India 2008, Laxman Reddy is hungry for more and has set his sights on lifting the Mr Olympia trophy as well. Notwithstanding his success, the body builder comes across as a humble young man. He credits his close friend and aide Kiran Debla and coach Kunal Kir for his achievements. “For a person from a lower middle class family to be Mr World is impossible without friends like Debla,” he points out and adds, “Kunal Kir has been a wonderful guide, motivator and a friend that others would envy. All my contacts and sponsors have come through Kunal. He has been the key to my journey.” Laxman Reddy works as a PR manager for the Navbharat Group which is also his main sponsor. Almas Hotels and Sweatzone Gym are his other sponsors. Reddy, who has been a professional body builder for over seven years, draws his inspiration from Premchand Degra, the only Indian ever to claim the Mr Universe title, and of course, Arnold Schwarzenegger. “A well-balanced diet is the most important aspect of body building,” explains the champ, who spends six hours a day at the gym. “I take 7-8 meals a day including chicken, egg whites, fruits, nuts and vitamin tablets,” he reveals.The problem for him as well as others in the field is lack of encouragement. “There is a lot of scope for sports like body building, if only authorities pay some respect to the sportsmen. The government could make use of bodybuilders by giving them jobs in the police department like western countries do,” he wishes.
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