Mangalore: Body Builder Vincent Carlo's Int'l Dream Needs Encouragement

Interview by Sharad Raj
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SB)

Mangalore, Aug 3: Peek into Indian history suggest that the land has nurtured body building since time immemorial when kings encouraged it as a sport with strongest awarded prestigious position in their
courts. Body building was a national passion across India by 1500s and today's modern bodybuilding techniques have their origins when the colonials copied the Indian techniques during their visits to India
and later propagated them in the west.

After independence though no much encouragement has been provided to the body builders. In such a scenario, Vincent Prakash Carlo is one among the two body builders selected from the state to represent the Indian team in Asia Pacific Body Building Championship at Avarua Rarotonga Cook islands.

Vincent who hails from Bajjodi, Kulshaker is the only son of Norbert Carlo and Veera Monis. He is married to Flavia Carlo and father of Venizeia Annie Carlo and Vanice Sallon Carlo. Despite being born in a poor family, Vincent took to body building in his high school and got encouragement from his father though a driver. He now along with his career, encourages youth being trained at Silva's Gym, Kalpane here and
provides them with useful tips to build a good body.

In his career achievements have been many. Apart from winning gold medal in the state-level body building competitions ten times, he has in his kitty nine gold medals in the national level competitions and
three in the University level. Internationally despite financial difficulties that has been chasing him, Vincent bagged 14th place in the World Amatuer Body Building competition held at Castres, France on
September 29 2007 and 6th place in Indo- Pak Peace and Friendship Championship held at Islamabad, Pakistan.

Vincent now is all gearing up to top at the Asia Pacific competition, which he is hopeful of competing if he gets sponsors who will fund his diet and travel expenditure. Training hard, Vincent recently took some
time to share his experiences as body builder with Daijiworld.

Q: When did you begin your career in body building and tell us about initial support?

A: I started my body building career when I was in my high school at St Joseph School, Kankanady. With the timely support of my father I joined the gym soon and began working hard slowly inching towards a
career.

Q: Who was your inspiration for body building?

A: Like many it has to be Mr World Raymond D’Souza, who brought a revolutionary turn to the sport being the first to win the title from Mangalore. He is a good friend and a guide to date in my career.

Q: Tell us about the coach who shaped you up to international standards?

A: M S Kumar, retired KMC college coach, who also trained Raymond is the trainer, who made me capable of foraying into international scene.

Q: Being a government employee, do you get any special allowances to participate in the international championships?

A: No there is no such provisions for the government officials or any other body builders in the nation. It is a long pending demand from our fraternity that government fund should be made available to building associations like Karnataka State Amateur Body Builders' Association and National Amateur Body Builders' Association to make the associations self-sufficient. Now the associations help the body
builders participate in the prestigious events taking help of private sponsors.

Q: What are the factors that demotivate you from participating in the body building competition?

A: A body builder from financially poor background has to spend a lot of money on diet and travel expenses along with balancing family responsibilities, which mostly demotivates a sportsperson from going up to a higher level in sports. The financial difficulties are playing as a deterrent from participating in Asia pacific competition, but I am going to try hard as my friends feel that I have the potential to
win the contest.

Q: Who helped you financially to participate in the World Amateur Body Building competition and Indo- Pak Peace and Friendship Championship?

A: I can never forget deputy commissioner of excise Rajendra Prasad, who funded my participation at the World Amateur Body Building competition held at France in 2007 and joint commissioner of excise
Vijayanagar division (Hospet) R Rajanna who helped me financially and motivated me contest in the championship at the last moment.

Q: How will you feel if you get sponsors for Asia Pacific Body Building Championship?

A: I will be very much thankful to sponsor as I will be motivated to participate in the Asia Pacific contest and can work without any tension towards bagging first place. I can also supplement myself with
better diet and exercise regimen.

Q: What is your diet like?

A: Apart from having meat four days in a week, right supplements of soya, sprout, dals and pulses as well as nuts soaked overnight.

Vincent's total expenditure including air fare, VISA, daily allowance and miscellaneous transport during Asia Pacific contest approximately comes up to Rs 1.25 lac. Those who wish to sponsor him can contact him at 94487 70200.

If one wishes to contribute amount to his bank account, the details are herebelow.

Account number: 10981160009
State Bank of India
Port Road Branch
Mangalore
IFSC code- SBIN0000871