HIV patient wins Mr Manipur crown

[Guest guest]

Dear all

Warm Christmas and New Years Greetings.

An encouraging news- Mr. Khundrakpam Pradipkumar Singh, 35 years , of Sagoldband

Khamnam Leirak, Imphal Manipur was crowned Gold Medal for the the 60 Kg.

category of the Senior Mr. Manipur contest held on 16th December 2007 at Imphal.

HIV patient wins Mr Manipur crown

IMPHAL, DEC 24: He defied social stigma, physical weakness and above all, one of

the most dreaded diseases to flex his rippling muscles.

Meet Khundrakpam Pradipkumar Singh, 37, who won the Senior Mr Manipur title in

the 60-kg category organised by the All Manipur Body Building Association last

week.

His achievement comes seven years after he tested HIV positive in 2000.

“I wanted to show the world that HIV positive people could live a healthy life

and be successful in sports. I took up the challenge and I think I have won,”

Pradipkumar, a resident of Khamnam Leirak in Imphal West, said today.

The fourth of five children of retired government official Kalachand Singh and

Mema Devi, a former teacher, Pradipkumar took to drugs after passing the matric

examination. He was hooked on heroin, locally known as “number 4”, in the

intravenous form.

After graduating from Utkal University, he joined Kumaon University for a

master’s degree but did not complete the course. He contracted the virus through

sharing of syringes and needles.

Pradipkumar began body-building when he was quite young and won a gold medal

when he was 16 at a state-level contest organised by a club in Imphal West.

After testing HIV positive, doctors and his parents advised him to stop

bodybuilding.

“I did not want to step out of my house then. All my friends stayed away from

me. Then I started planting flowers at home. One day, I visited Eagle Guide Gym

and tried free hand exercises,” he said.

That afternoon in 2001 was a turning point in his life. Encouraged by a friend,

he started “heavy” exercise. Last year, he won a silver medal in the state-level

bodybuilding competition in the 60-kg category.

After winning the Senior Mr Manipur title last week, he contested for the Mr

Manipur crown but was not successful. “I sometimes feel the pain. I took

painkillers twice on the day of the competition last week because of a pain in

the left shoulder.”

Pradipkumar aims at a gold medal in the 2008 Senior Mr India contest in the

60-kg category. The contest is likely to be held in April in Uttar Pradesh. But

what really keeps him striving is a greater dream. “I want to compete at

international level,” the bodybuilder said. (Telegraph)

http://www.kuknalim.com/modules.php?name=News & file=article & sid=5367

He is searching for avenue to generate some resources to achieve his goal. For

further Informations please contact Mr. Pradipkumar at

(0385) 2440635, +91-9856271126

Lakhikanta Athokpam

e-mail: <lathokpam@...>

[Guest guest]

HIV patient wins Mr Manipur crown

Re: /message/8252

Dear All,

Good news indeed. Pradeep's win needs to be widely circulated by

media . It will win the hearts of many and will instil hope and

confidence amond PLWHA.

Sadhu Charan Panda

e-mail: <sadhucmvss@...>

__________________

Dear FORUM,

Very encouraging news. In fact many PLWHA's are doing excellent in their

respective fields. Our heartiest congratulations! Keep up your endeavour.

Dr Diwakar Tejaswi

Medical Director

RATNEI, IHO

www.ihousa.org

Mobile: +91-9835078298

e-mail: <diwakartejaswi@...>

[Guest guest]

Dear All

An example has been created by Mr. Khundrakpam Pradipkumar Singh, by winning the

title of Mr.Manipur on 16th December 2007 at Imphal.Inspite of being an PLWHA he

has shown the world that HIV infection is not the end of everything.

Winning a Mr.Title requires years of effort and determination which is not an

easy task.

As now he wants to complete in the national and international level let us

support him so that he may become an inspriration for all the People Living With

HIV/AIDS.

PhD Scholar,

Tata Institute of Social Sciences

Mumbai.

e-mail: <jenniferkipgen@...>

[Guest guest]

Dear all,

Re: /message/8252

Greetings ! Its really great news for us. Other positive people like us get lot

of courage to see this news. We always try to reduce discrimination from our

society. After saw this news we get lot of courage to live healthy life.

Many people asked us that how we got infection, very few of asking us life

after infection . he is our most idol person for showing life after infection.

We salute Mr. Khundrakpam Pradipkumar Singh for his work . we all are with him .

With Regards

Jahnabi Goswami

Team of Assam network of positive people (ANP+)

e-mail: <jahnabig@...>

[Guest guest]

Dear All,

/message/8252

A very very Happy New Year to all.

Many many congragulation to Mr Khundrakpam Pradipkumar Singh for winning the

esteemed title and hats off to your determination and hard work.

Wishing you the best for your future.

Sophia

Sophia Khumukcham

Technical Officer

NACO

e-mail: <sophia.khumukcham@...>