Dhananjay’s journey from ace skater to champion bodybuilder

* Creates history by securing 5th place in Amateur Olympia

Rajesh Dhar

JAMMU, Oct 24: Skater turned bodybuilder Dhananjay Singh Charak has created history by securing 5th place in the prestigious Amateur Olympia held at Mumbai recently.
Amateur Olympia is the biggest stage in the bodybuilding where amateur bodybuilders all over the world take part and vie for turning into a PRO Level bodybuilder.
Dhananjay, son of Jasbir Singh Charak and Yogita Charak is the first ever Mr World from Jammu and Kashmir.
Mr Charak, who had his schooling from MHAC Nagbani and did B-Tech in Electronics at GCET Jammu, has the distinction of being an ace skater and a champion bodybuilder.
He had started skating in 2004 and after claiming around 20 gold medals in various National Level events including Senior Nationals, besides tournaments under School Games Federation of India (SGFI) and Central Board of School Education (CBSE) left this sport in 2010 when he opted for Engineering.
After joining B-Tech in Government College for Engineering and Technology (GCET) in Jammu, Dhananjay used to go to Gym for his physical fitness and mental relief, where he was motivated by the trainer to make bodybuilding as his career.
“When I left skating before joining Engineering, I was feeling uneasy at times, which forced me to join Gym in my locality. However, joining the same changed my fortune altogether,” Dhananjay said while feeling ecstatic and expressing happiness over his recent achievement.
Dhananjay has the honour of becoming the 1st bodybuilder from the State to be nominated for prestigious Sher-e-Kashmir Award in recognition to his outstanding achievements in the field of sports.
Tall and handsome Dhananjay became Mr J&K 2013, got 6th rank in Mr Asia 2014 and 4th rank in Mr World 2016.
Replying to a question during a free-wheeling chat with EXCELSIOR as to whom he attributed his success, Dhananjay said that it were his parents and coach Guradesh Mann who made him to blossom at the National and the International scene.
“Bodybuilding is an expensive sport as you need a high quality diet to flourish in it. For that matter all the credit goes to my parents for providing me the same,” Dhananjay said while lavishing praise on his parents for their support.
He said that in bodybuilding one needs financial support, which is very tough to be provided by the families only. For that matter, Government needs to take more initiatives with regard to providing financial assistance to bodybuilding and other allied sports disciplines.
Sharing his experience of the events at the higher levels, Dhananjay said that beating the bodybuilders from Iran and other such countries is an uphill task, adding that for doing so, one needs a high quality preparation.
“No-doubt, Central as also the State Government is committed to promote sports and is striving hard to carve a space on the Country’s sports map, yet categorising games on merit is the need of the hour. I wish Government takes all initiatives and raises infrastructure and provides more financial assistance to ace athletes to sparkle at the higher levels. Otherwise, expecting miracles from State sportspersons with meagre facilities is to cry for the moon,” expressed Dhananjay.

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