KATHMANDU, June 10: Bodybuilder Maheshwor Maharjan has been announced as one of the nominees of the Peoples’ Choice Award in the Pulsar Sports Award 2019. One of the most popular players in the calendar year 2018-19, Maharjan gained country-wide stardom after winning the gold medal in the 75-kg category of World Bodybuilding and Physique Championship held in Thailand last year.
Maheshwor Maharjan
Maharjan not only created a name for him but also brought bodybuilding into limelight after a long time. It was the reason Nepal Sports Journalists Forum (NSJF) nominated him in the People’s Choice Award 2019. Normally, this category has been dominated since its inception by cricketers and footballers. For a change, a bodybuilder has appeared in the scene for the first time. Maharjan is happy for this accolade and says, ‘nomination itself is the recognition’.
Keeping the tradition alive
The 35-year-old, however, is committed to win the award. “This is the most prestigious award in Nepali sports fraternity,” he said. He is well aware about the tough competition for this award category.
Maharjan’s extreme hard work and dedication made a professional career in bodybuilding possible. There was a time, like many Nepali youths, he went abroad looking for better opportunities. However, he returned Nepal and started a gymnasium along with his friends.
He was a lean and thin boy when he started bodybuilding. He first joined a gymnasium near his home during his schooldays. Today, he owns a gymnasium. When he flaunts his body after few hours of workout in his gym, his physique looks like a work of art. Many envy his physique that has earned Nepal historic success, that too at the world level.
Maharjan competed in the Dharmashree Championship for the first time six years after taking up the sport in 1997. He had already won a gold medal in the 50th Asian Bodybuilding Championship in Bhutan few years ago. At home, he won the title of the 13th Dharmashree Championship, including gold in the 75-kg category.
His next aim is to participate in the Mr Universe Championship, for which he is working diligently these days. Amid his preparations, nomination in the award has given him new energy. For the moment, preparations for the Mr Universe Championship along with the title of the NSJF Pulsar Sports Award 2019 will be fitting for this athlete.
Five athletes who hogged the limelight throughout the year due to this performance have been nominated in this category of the award. The public will decide the winner with popular votes. SMS, Facebook likes, votes of NSJF members and head coaches of national sports associations will decide the winner.
