Thiruvananthapuram: Binoy Victor of Cheriyamuttom near Poonthura had to beat many odds, including financial downturns caused by cyclone Ockhi to bag the junior level Mr India title in Rajasthan.
Binoy Victor, 21, son of fisherman Victor Alias and Lissy Victor, had though last month that he would have to stop bodybuilding forever when famine caused by cyclone Ockhi struck their coastal hamlets following the cyclone. The last five weeks before a competition is crucial and that was when Victor was confronted with the disaster.
Victor’s diet primarily included fish and he required food worth '700 daily. Apart from this, were the cost of proteins and other supplements.
“My diet was primarily fish. I need 2 kg fish, 2 kg chicken, 30 eggs, vegetables and other nutrients daily. This was not happening as Ockhi affected our livelihood,” said Mr Victor.
He recently dropped out of college to concentrate on bodybuilding and was solely dependent on his father who could not venture into the seas. Like him, his relatives and friends were traumatised after many lost lives.
However, his mother Lizy ensured that the money was somehow put together so as not to stop Victor from pumping iron. He was guided by ace bodybuilder Sarath B. All the efforts turned fruitful when he won Mr India gold medal in the 70 kg category and also the Best Poser trophy.
“My training would involve two hours of workout in the morning and two and a half hours session in the evening. Morning sessions were cardio-oriented and the evening sessions were about lifting heavy weights,” said Mr Victor.
“It’s not the end of the season for me as I am preparing for the district and South Indian championships,” he added.
Before heading to the national level, he had appeared in the junior bodybuilding championships at the district and state levels in 2014, 2015 and 2017. He hopes to make into the services or railways by continuing his form.
