Prized pectorals

Flexing well-knit muscles of arms, torso and thighs, 21-year-old Rushad Khambatta picked up the title of Mr Zoroastrian for the second year in a row at the 5th All India Zoroastrian Body Building Championship organized by the Sir Ness Wadia Club at Rustom Baug on February 24, 2006. Yazad Davar won the Prof Tehmurasp Trophy donated by Viraf Chiniwala for the Best Poser.

Barely a month before the Rustom Baug event, Kham­batta had stood fourth in the 80 kg class at the Mr India body building competition. "There were around 200 competitors in my weight category which is 80 kg. It was the first time I was entering a competition at this level, the only Parsi to do so. I would have been very content even if I had come in the top 10. I was so surprised and happy when I secured fourth place,” Khambatta remarks, adding that it was after almost 20 years that a Zoroastrian had participated in a national level body building competition.

At the finals of the Zoroastrian Championship, Khambatta topped in the 75+ kg group, with Sherzad Dastur second and Navroze Dapotawala of Surat third. Davar was first in the 75 kg class, followed by Hoshang Poonawala and Khushru Cooper second and third respectively. Viraf Driver topped in the 65 kg group, with Surat’s Zerxis Khambatta and Meherzad Wadia taking second and third spot.

(Clockwise from top - L to R) Winners all: Viraf Driver, Yazad Davar and Rushad Khambatta; Best Poser Yazad Davar with Viraf Chiniwala; Mr Zoroastrian Rushad Khambatta with organizers Panthaki, Doodhwala and Jasoomoney

Rushad Khambatta, Davar, Dastur and Poonawala all train at Mickey Mehta’s well-known 360° Gym, Health beyond Fitness in Bombay. "These boys are totally dedicated,” Mehta told Parsiana. "They are all trainers in my gym. They get up early for their own training, then work all day for their bread and butter and train again in the late evening/night. Before competitions, diet restrictions are very rigorous. They go off water and salt. The body goes through a lot of beating, but they are very disciplined.” "I have been on boiled food since last November,” Khambatta laughs. "Whatever weight we may have put on in the off season we have to lose when the season starts. I have lost 18 kilos. Compared to last year, I have totally changed. Mehta has helped me in all ways.” In December ’05, Rushad Khambatta had been the first runner-up at the Mr Bombay competition, progressing to the Mr Maharashtra event where he stood fourth from over 150 body builders, he narrates. "I have not decided for sure but I may try for the Mr Asia event in the future,” he says.

Powerlifting winners (from left): Percy Bahmani, Ruzan Bastawala and Dara Avari

At the powerlifting contest held along with the Zoroastrian Body Building Championship, Kaizad Irani was declared the Best Lifter. In the Powerlifting 85+ kg class, Percy Bahmani stood first, followed by Ruzan Bastawala and Dara Avari.

A karate demonstration by the youngsters of Rustom Baug was also presented on this occasion, with only two months training under Sensei Hoshi Batliwala and Bahmani. Batliwala is technical director and chief instructor of the Okinawan Goj-Ryu Karate-Do Shobukan India, as well as a judge appointed by the Asian Karate-Do Federation for kata and kumite competitions,

as per a write-up from the Sir Ness Wadia Club. Young gymnasts from the Mumbai Sabharbandh Malkhamb Association showcased their skills on rope, pole and floor.

Putting together the entire event was Viraf Panthaki and the Sir Ness Wadia Club team of Dr Porus Turner (president), Hutoxi Doodhwala, Rustom Jasoomoney, Aashdin Billimoria and Shahen Mistry.