KUALA LUMPUR: After placing in the top five last year, Mr Malaysia 2023 R. Kumareswarren is now eyeing the podium at the 2023 World Bodybuilding and Physique Championships.
Kumareswarren, who won the title of Mr Malaysia 2023 at the 52nd National Bodybuilding Championships yesterday, said his next step was to get into the top three at the World Championships to be held in Gangwok, South Korea, from Nov 6-12.
The 38-year-old bodybuilder who has been involved in the sport for 15 years, initially emerged as the Heavyweight champion at the National Championships, then qualified for the Champion of Champions round.
Kumareswarren, who is a gym operator, once again managed to flex his amazingly sculpted muscles and style to win the title of Mr Malaysia 2023 yesterday.
"I am very happy to have won the title of Mr Malaysia after a lot of hard work. Although I have participated in and won many other competitions, this title is very special for me after undergoing training twice a day since the beginning of the year.
"The next target is the World Championships, after finishing in the top five at my first appearance in Thailand, last year. I am ready to face fierce competition from athletes from all over the world, especially Thailand, Europe, China and India," he told Bernama.
Commenting further, Kumareswarren said he had made countless sacrifices in terms of finances and unwavering dietary discipline to stay at an optimal level to reach this point,
Even when dining out with family or friends, he would adhere to a strictly dedicated diet by bringing his own food, as well as ensuring that his salt intake did not exceed five grammes a day.
''To be in this field is not an easy journey because I also have to spend a lot of money - which is entirely borne by myself - for expenses such as food and supplements, but this is my passion, so it's worth it.
"Every day, I have six meals that I prepare myself and I have to count and measure my calorie intake, there's no sugar or fried food, only brown rice, chicken breast, vegetables and oats in my diet," he said.
Kumareswarren also expressed gratitude for the support and encouragement received from his family from the very beginning, adding that it was the biggest motivating factor for him to continue the journey. --BERNAMA