The best body in the business

Yet another Hyderabadi has done the country proud. Raja Narendra, 32 has brought home medals after being named the best bodybuilder and the best sports model at the International Physique League held in California recently.

A recipient of multiple other laurels including All India National Medals (2), State Gold Medals (10), and a South India Silver Medal, Raja reveals that his most recent wins are the result of 16 months of intense training and preparation. “For 16 months, I completely focused on my workout. My life revolved around the gym. But even though my preparations were on in full swing, I lacked the money to pay for flight tickets to California and accommodation. In a stroke of luck, some kind people came forward and offered to sponsor my trip,” he says.

Born in Eluru (West Godavari), Raja was a child who loved sports. He started showing a serious interest in bodybuilding at the tender age of 14, and his family encouraged him to pursue his dreams. “My father wanted to be a sports person, but he wasn’t able to. So he encouraged me to become one,” Raja recounts.

But, like any other Indian kid, just focussing on sports was not enough. Raja also got a BCom degree and enrolled in an MBA programme before migrating to Hyderabad in 2010. Since then, he has focussed solely on his fitness goals.

A look at his daily routine will tell you just how dedicated and disciplined this sportsperson is. “My day starts at 5 in the morning. I begin by loading my body with natural amino acids and carbohydrates before heading to the gym at 8 am. I work out all day, taking breaks for breakfast and lunch. I have my dinner at 7 pm and hit the bed between 9.30 and 10 pm. My last intake of the day is raw papaya and cucumber juice.”

Looking back at the struggles he’s faced in getting here, Raja says, “My challenges were primarily financial. I didn’t have the money to get the best training. Preparing for an international competition requires a great gym facility and a great coach, both of which are expensive. I had to struggle to secure those.  Although I’ve cracked a few government job interviews, I have not been given a call letter because officials want bribes to appoint me to a job I deserve.”

The bodybuilder also feels that if things continue the way they are, there is no future for others like him. “There is no future because India lacks sponsors for bodybuilding. It could be because they fail to understand the importance of the sport,” he says. Meanwhile, Raja hasn’t given up hope completely. Encouraged by his recent success, he’s hoping to win other international championships including the Mr World competition and meet his idol actor Prabhas.