Arambam Boby clinches second gold for India at World Body-building Championship

Boby regains his title from 2012

Manipuri builder Arambam Boby clinched India’s second gold medal, by winning the 80 kg category in the 7th WBPF World Body-Building and Physique sports Championship, held in Bangkok. Earlier, Thakur Anoop Singh also won gold for India.

With this victory he has won his fourth World Championship title, and also regained his crown from 2012. Bobby also won gold at this year’s Asian body-building Championship, held in Tashkent

From the Women’s event, another Manipuri Thingbaijam Sarita won bagged a silver medal in the 65 kg weight category. She had previously won a silver medal at the Asian Championship this year. In a lower weight category, former Asian Champion K Rebita, finished fourth, narrowly missing out on a triple success for Manipur and India. She had also won a bronze medal at the recently concluded Asian Championship.

However, Yumnam Mamota Devi made sure the Manipuri contingent didn’t disappoint as she won a bronze for India in the 55+ kg category. India’s four medal tally, puts them second in the leaderboard, behind hosts Thailand.

Like Bobby, Yumnam had also won a gold medal at the 49th Asian Championship. Bobby said, “I am very happy that I have managed to carry my form to the World Championship. Now the goal is to soon turn professional.”

India’s medal tally also highlighted the growth of Body-building in the state of Manipur. With so many laurels won, only time will tell whether these athletes will be felicitated by the Sports Ministry.