Suresh Kumar was a 20-year-old when he first stepped into a gym. He was then a confused young man, who wanted to escape from ennui of joblessness, after completing industrial training. However, the native of Bharanikavi in Kollam hardly imagined that it would change his life forever. Suresh, who is now, 59 years old has won the Mister India title in the master’s category, brining glory and pride to his home state.
Mister Kollam
Suresh started gym training in 1985 and two years later, in 1987, he got job as a conductor in Kerala Road Transport Corporation. As he had double duty, had to work only for three days a week. He got ample time to work out and build his body. His intense training and work out paid off when Suresh won the Mister Kollam title that year. Interestingly, he held on to that title for the next decade and a half.
Besides, he became Mister Kerala five times. After crossing 40 years, the contestants have to compete in the Masters category. Even though he participated in the Masters category for the age group of 40 – 50, at the event held in Kolakata in 2008, he could only win the third place. Suresh says he had since been training hard to win the coveted title in the Masters category. On 23 February 2022, Suresh became the first Keralite to win the Open Class Masters Mister India title in the 50 – 60 age group, held at Puducherry.
Hard work and patience
He retired in May 2020 from his job at the KSRTC. Suresh has since been working as a trainer at the Alien gym in Kollam. He works at the gym from 5.30 am – 9 am and 4 pm – 9 pm. He follows special diets only when he has a competition coming up. However, he eats rice only thrice a week to regulate his carbohydrates intake.
