“The Arnold Schwarzenegger of Bengaluru”: Water Tanker Driver G Balakrishna Wins Mr. Asia Title

In what seems like an incredible feat, G. Balakrishna, a 25-year-old water tanker driver from Bengaluru, was crowned Mr. Asia 2016 at the recently concluded 5th Phil-Asia Bodybuilding Championship in the Philippines.
A gym instructor by profession, Balakrishna runs a water tanker business in Bengaluru to support his income and can often be spotted driving tankers.

According to a report in The Hindu, this ardent fan of Arnold Schwarzenegger said on his win, “I am proud of my achievement and hope to repeat it more often with some financial support.”

G Balakrishna, source: facebook

Mr. Asia is not the first bodybuilding title for Balakrishna. While in 2013, Balakrishna won the Mr. Universe Under-24 title in Germany, the next year, he bagged the Mr. Universe title in the same category at the World Championship in Athens, Greece.
Balakrishna trains for around six hours every day. Gym instructors Sangram Chougle from Mumbai and Munish Kumar from Punjab also train Balakrishna and help him with his workout.

“I am maintaining my position with a rich daily diet that includes 750 g of chicken, 25 eggs, 300 g of rice, 200 g of vegetables along with fish for extra protein and fruits,” he told The Hindu. Weighing around 120 kg off-season, he maintains his weight at around 90kg during competitions.

The sole breadwinner of the family, who lost his father at a young age, Balakrishna’s main worry is funds. With no support from the government, Balakrishna still struggles to participate in the championships abroad and keep up his training as well as diet.
“I am proud of my achievement and hope to repeat it more often with some financial support. I owe it to my mother, Parvathamma, and brother Rajesh who have been my pillars of support,” he said.

Know more about him here.

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