India's 'Pocket Hercules' turns 100

Manohar Aich, India's first Mr Universe, turned 100 on Sunday. Nicknamed 'Pocket Hercules' because of his compact 4-foot-11-inch frame, Aich won the world bodybuilding title in 1952. He overcame many hurdles, including poverty and a stint in jail, before he won the Mr Universe title. Aich says the secret to long life is a healthy diet and his ability to be happy. In 1942, Aich joined the RAF and took to weight training. Some years later he was jailed for protesting against colonial oppression and that is when he began weight training effectively. In 1950, he won a Mr Hercules contest and this spurred him on to set his sights on the Mr Universe tournament in London, which he eventauly won in 1952. After that he went on to win several contests, including the Asian Bodybuilding Championship.

 

ndian body builder Manohar Aich, on the eve of his 100th birthday, looks at a print of one of his pictures hanging in a gymnasium, in Kolkata on March 16, 2012.

Thank You : Yahoo

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