HIV Positive Bodybuilder Wins Mr. Manipur Title

Khundrakpam Pradipkumar, an HIV positive bodybuilder, has recently won the title of Mr. Manipur for the 60 Kg Category.

"I want to prove the worth of an HIV positive person," he said adding that a victory of a dream with the support of a strong will power.

37-year-old, Pradipkumar won the coveted title which is the dream of many young men.

Pradipkumar came to know about his HIV status only in 2000 but did not lose the hope, even when most of his friends who shared the needles with him, died long back.

"Every person believes that once you are infected by HIV, you will die. But this is not a fact. If you will continue to consume the medicine on time and have healthy food, than you can spend your life in a normal way. This is what I wanted to show to the people. That's why I began to play," he said.

Acting as a role model for the many in Manipur, which is among the top rankers in the list of HIV, induced by injections.

Unfortunately, during his growing up days only, he started using heroin and by 1987 he started injecting them, which pushed him in the clutches of deadly HIV.

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"My happiness is beyond the words. I am very proud of my son. He is very brave and courageous but with only one mistake that he committed. He has been rendered helpless like an accident like an accident victim. But despite all odds, he has made it so far, for which as a mother my happiness knows no bounds," said Kh. Memma Devi, Pradipkumar's mother.

Pardipkumar got third position in state level wrestling championship in 1985 and gold medal in the state level power lifting in 1987.

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Now, he is targeting to take part in the Mr. India competition, to be held in Meerut at Uttar Pradesh in March 2008, to cover another stair of success.

Source-ANI
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