Jena selected for World bodybuilding meet

Orissa veteran Kartikeswar Jena has been selected to represent the country in the World Bodybuilding Championship to be held at Dubai from November 3 to 8. This was disclosed today by Indian Bodybuilding Federation joint-secretary Golak Bihari Patnaik at a function in Bhubaneswar, where Jena was felicitated for winning a bronze medal in the 75kg master (above 50 years) category of the Multi Asian Bodybuilding and Fitness Championship held at Bangkok (Thailand) from August 11 to 17. A 10-member Indian squad, including one woman, bagged three silver and two bronze medals the Asian meet. Chandrajeet Bora (Assam, junior 65kg), Kathiravan (Pondichery, junior 75kg) and Daljeet Singh (Punjab, men’s classic) won a silver medal each, while the second bronze was claimed by Daljeet Singh in fitness category. Winning the Asian medal turned out to be an unforgettable experience for Jena as he lost and found the bronze while returning home from Kolkata. ‘‘A group of young people congratulated me at the airport in Kolkata and offered me a bottle of soft drink. After taking the content I became unconscious and the group then robbed me off my belongings, including the medal. But thanks to Kolkata police, I recovered the medal after a day,’’ Jena described. Orissa Powerlifting Association secretary Chitta Ranjan Swain, Jena’s sponsor Amiya Kumar Das and coach Hari Prasad Pattanayak congratulated the bodybuilder in the felicitation function. PHOTO: Kartikeswar Jena poses with his Asian medal and trophy in Bhubaneswar on August 21, 2009.