Wanted: Men with mighty muscles

The state's strongest man will walk away with Rs 2 lakh but before that there's a lorry to pull and loads to carry

The state's strongest man will walk away with Rs 2 lakh but before that there's a lorry to pull and loads to carry

The hunt is on for the mightiest man in Karnataka.

Balashaali Anisu or Man of Strength is a one-of-its-kind event that will zero in on the state's strongest man.

Cagey: A contestant tries to cut the thick wires of a cage in one of the rounds file pic

Auditions started on Mayu00a0 12 in Tumkur and Mysore and will continue across 11 other venues in the state. The mightiest man will be chosen on June 6 in Hubli.

"It's a test of talent," said Himayshu Purandare, head of brands, SABmiller India Ltd, which is organising the event. "The games are unusual and we judge the contestants' physical strength as they play these games (see box)."

The one with the highest number of points will walk away with Rs 2 lakh.

Games so far

The games are are being held for the last three years to encourage body-builders.

"The event is basically to promote young talent among us," said Jyothish, an organiser. "We don't have such games anywhere. That's why we conduct it."

The competition is open to all youth irrespective of where they come from. With the auditions in Tumkur and Mysore over, men can still take part in the remaining centres including Chitradurga, Hubli, Shimoga and Mangalore.

u00a0However, it will take about a year for the event to come to Bangalore.

"We will start the event in Bangalore next year," added Purandare. "But Bangaloreans can walk in to win the title at any other city where the games are being played," he said.

Games strong men play
>>The games are unlike conventional ones. For instance, in the Lorry Pull round, contestants have to pull a lorry with their bare hands while they have to carry 15 kg on either shoulder and walk 50 metres in the Atlas Stones round.
>>Then there's the Pillar of Hercules where contestants have to lift stones weighing 75 kg with their bare hands to a height of 20 feet and in the Log Lift round, they have to carry wooden logs weighing 80 kg.
>>In the Power Pulley round, they have to lift sandbags weighing about 100 kg to the maximum height.