Likewise, Mahesh Dattatray Agavane of Surya Prabhat Gymnasium, Pune who was adjudged first in the light-weight category was declared junior Pune Festival Shree '98.

The Lion's Club of Poona-Empress Garden, sponsored competition, saw a total of 100 participants from all over the state take part in the state-level meet conducted on an annual basis.

Each category was keenly contested with even the judges having a hard time to declare the right winner. Rajesh who triumphed in the open category had to withstand some stiff competition from the local lads, before finally annexing the coveted title. The 24-year-old gym instructor at Slim-Well has been into the sport for the last six years was thrilled and excited on winning the title. ``I never expected to win,'' came his modest reply after he received the trophy. His win was creditable as all through his routine he performed in front of a non-supportive audience.

However, all was not the same for Mahesh who won the juniors' title. Instead the 22-year-old Puneite was `confident' and informed that he always stood with a chance for the pole-spot. Mahesh who was the crowd favourite, has been training for the last three years at the Surya Prabhat Gymnasium on Sinhagad road in Wadgaon Budruk is an employee of Cummins India Limited, Kothrud.

The competition was adjudged by a panel of five judges which included 80- year-old Marzban Kaikobad an erstwhile body builder, George Wilson, chief coach, Railways, Datta Gore, director of Gore Gymnasium, Balasaheb Shingade and S.K Pillay.

The entire five hour competition, was witnessed by a healthy crowd who remained right till the end, which reminds us of one aspect that the sport still does have a huge following.. Among the audience was Prashant Nadkar a former three time Mr India winner (1991, 92, and 93) who also is a recipient of the Shiv Chhatrapati Award in 89-90.

Prashant though satisfied with the judges results lamented that the level of competition had come down considerably over the last three years. He also pointed out, that the existence of two body building associations for vested interests had a negative impact on the entire body building scenario.

Prashant who is co-owner of My-Gym, Kothrud now plans to take another shot at the Mr India title. Later, the prizes were given away by Narendra Bhandari, Lion's Club District Governor who was also the chief guest for the occasion.

Results
Fly Wt: Slivekumar Swamy; Sanjay More; Rahul Khule. Bantam Wt: Prashant Dedge; N.Raman; Ashok Shelar. Light Wt: Mahesh Agavane; Abdul Zabbar Khan; Anniruddin Povile. Welter Wt: Krishnan Maulya; Ganesh More; Sanjay Das. Light Middle Wt: Sanjay Agnen; Abhijeet Gaikwad; T.H Shaikh. Middle Wt and above: Mangal Patri; Martin Neschami; Mahesh Lakhan.