Gym and tonic

Putting into practise the adage "ladies first,” last year’s inaugural Miss Super Fit contest found a continuation with a second edition this year, followed by the first Mr Super Fit contest. The fitness competitions as well as the Seventh All India Zoroastrian Body Building Championship for men were sponsored and organized by the NarYman KaiKhosrow Dubash Foundation on May 10, 2008 at the Sir Ness Wadia Club (SNWC) at Rustom Baug in Bombay. The fourth Power Lifting contest for men and women also sponsored by the Foundation had been held earlier on March 2 at the same venue.

Super Fit men and women went through a tough routine — push-ups, squats, mountain climbing, jumping jacks and abdominal crunches, putting to test strength, stamina and flexibility. The number of repetitions, accuracy of form and timing fetched more points. Well-known fitness guru Mickey Mehta encouraged the competitors and conducted and compered the rounds. "We had a very good turnout, with a number of entries. It is an excellent way of bringing the youth and seniors together on a common platform, to kindle the flame of fitness,” Mehta remarks. Of the 11 semi finalists in the men’s event, four were over 50 years old and were put into the veteran category.

Winners all (from left): Khushru Cooper, Navroze Dapotawala, Burgess Daruwala

Personifying positivity, Adi Patel, at 73, gave contestants 20 years his junior a jaw-dropping fight, winning the abdomen exercises section comfortably but losing to 53-year-old Alborze Irani who emerged the overall winner in the veteran group. "They were simply amazing,” marvels Hutoxi Doodhwala, SNWC vice president and trustee of the Foundation. "Patel’s abdominal crun­ches were crisp and perfect. Even after going through so much he showed no sign of fatigue.” One of the other competitors fell off the stage while he was jogging as he missed seeing the step in the strong light but "he was up in less than a minute and at it again!” she adds. Aspi Acharia and Sam Darukhanawala aged 62 and 63 respectively were the others in the group and contested gamely, note the organizers.

From among the seven younger contestants, Aresh Mehershahi won the title of Mr Super Fit 2008. Porus Mody and Mehernosh Unwalla were the first and second runners-up respectively.

Top row, from left: Aresh Mehershahi, Godrej Dotivala, Hutoxi Doodhwala, Rustom Jasoomoney, Kainaaz Billimoria, Mickey Mehta, Hufriya Kavarana, Sanaya Bokdawala; (alongside from left ) Adi Patel, Alborze Irani, Aspi Acharia, Sam Darukhanawala

On the distaff side, Hufriya Kavarana was Miss Super Fit with Kainaz Billimoria and Sanaya Bokdawala obtaining second and third place. There was a good mix of newcomers and those who work out regularly, notes Doodhwala. Mehershahi, Kavarana and Billimoria train at Mehta’s 360° Gym. First prize winners were awarded attractive cash prizes.

There is very poor enthusiasm for fitness in our community, Mehta says. "Look at the many old people who are completely bent and ailment ridden. Ageing is an enjoyable process, not a painful one. One must learn to lead a healthy life. I have identified and groomed many Parsis, encouraged them to want to make a difference in other people’s lives, to take up fitness training even as a profession.”

At the Body Building competition, cheered by a goodly crowd, Navroze Dapotawala of Surat won the title of Mr Zoroastrian and was also the winner in the heaviest (over 75 kg) class. "Dapotawala is extremely fit and strong. He does not come from an affluent background and he has had to put in unimaginable efforts to get where he is,” comments Mehta who has guided and assisted him in many ways. The Prof Tehmurasp Trophy for the Best Poser sponsored by Viraf Chiniwala was awarded to Khushru Cooper of K11 Gym in Bombay who topped in the 75 kg weight category. Burgess Daruwala of Malcolm Baug stood first in the 60 kg category. The contest was conducted by members of the Indian Body Building Federation under the leadership of president Madhav Pujari.

Rushad Khambatta, earlier winner of the Mr Zoroastrian title, Mr Mumbai Kaizad Kapadia and the current Mr Asia Suhas Khamkar entertained the crowd with a display of mighty muscle.

At the Power Lifting contest held under the affiliation of the Greater Bombay Power Lifting Association, the title of Best Lifter went to Meherzad Chinoy. Kainaz Katrak was the winner in the ladies section. Mehrzad Wadia, Cooper and Darukhanawala were the other winners in their respective weight categories.

Having become an annual feature in the sporting calendar of Rustom Baug, the events "would never have been possible without the tireless efforts of Viraf Panthaki,” note the organizers. Under the leadership of Rustom Jasoomoney and Doodhwala, SNWC members in particular Homiar Shroff, Shahen Mistry, Farzan Batliwala, Percy Bahmani and Aashdin Billimoria, lent solid support to the program.

The NarYman Dubash Foundation with the support of Mickey Mehta plan to make this a bigger event in future, with participation from Zoroastrians outside India as well, state the organizers. The next Body Building and Super Fit contests are slated for February 2009.