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Lucion Pushparaj

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Lucion Pushparaj
ලූෂන් පුෂ්පරාජ් (Sinhala), லூஷியன் புஷ்பராஜ் (Tamil)
Bodybuilder
Personal info
NicknameBlack Lion of Asia
Born (1982-09-10) September 10, 1982 (age 42)
Ja-Ela, Sri Lanka
Weight100–110 kg (220–243 lb)
Professional career
Pro-debut
  • 2013 IFBB Pro Championship in Oman
  • 2013
Best win
  • Mr Universe - WBPF World Champion[1][2]
SuccessorChitharesh Natesan
Active2012–active
Medal record
Men's Bodybuilding
Representing  Sri Lanka
IFBB Arnold Classic Amateur - Super Heavyweight
2020 Ohio 4th Place
10th WBPF Championship
Gold medal – first place 2018 Thailand Mr. Universe
IFBB Austrian International Bodybuilding Championship
Silver medal – second place 2018 Austria 2nd Place
IFBB Mr Asia Championship - ABBF
Gold medal – first place 2017 South Korea Mr. Asia
Silver medal – second place 2014 Colombo 2nd Place
Wawan Classic Expo International
Bronze medal – third place 2016 Kuwait 3rd Place
Oman Weightlifting Championship
Gold medal – first place 2014 Oman 1st Place
Mr. Sri Lanka Contest
Gold medal – first place 2014 Colombo Mr Sri Lanka
Atlas and Fitness Expo
2014 Los Angeles 4th Place

Lucion Anton Pushparaj, (born September 10, 1982) also spelled Lucian Pushparaj, nicknamed Black Lion of Asia, is a Sri Lankan male IFBB professional bodybuilder. He has taken part in several notable international competitions.[3][4] On 16 December 2018, he became the first Sri Lankan to win the WBPF World Championship title, and was crowned WBPF Mr. Universe.[5][6][7]

He is also the first Sri Lankan Bodybuilder to participate in the IFBB Pro Arnold Classic Amateur, where he came in 4th place.[8]

Early life

Pushparaj was born on September 10, 1982, in Ja-Ela. He received his primary education from St. Xavier Maha Vidyalaya, and his secondary education from Basilica College, Ragama. In school, Pushparaj was an active athlete, taking part in athletics, volleyball and cricket, winning at all-island level.[9]

Subsequently, he became a fitness instructor at various gyms, and tried his hand at Pro bodybuilding. Despite the difficulties and discriminations he faced, he managed to fund himself, train and compete.[9]

Physical statistics

  • Height: - 5'10"
  • Contest weight: - 100 kg
  • Off-season weight: - 110 kg
  • Chest: - 51" (contest shape)
  • Arms: - 19.5" (contest shape)

Career

2012-2013

Lucion is a professional bodybuilder who competed at both national and international levels since receiving his IFBB Pro status in 2012. He won his first major international competition in 2013, which was an IFBB Pro Championship in Oman.[9]

2014

Pushparaj won a gold medal in the 2014 Mr. Sri Lanka Contest. Later in 2014, Pushparaj won a silver medal in the AFBF 48th Asian Championship (IFBB) (100 kg Category).[10] In 2014, he became the first Sri Lankan to take part in the US based competition, Mr & Mrs Atlas and Fitness Expo Contest, and came in fourth place.[11]

2016-2018

In 2016 he came first (gold) in the Open Weightlifting Championship in Oman (Under 100 kg),[12] and then came third (bronze) at the Wawan Classic Expo International Bodybuilding Championship 2016, held in Kuwait.[13]

In 2017, he won a gold medal in the 51st Asian Bodybuilding and Physiques Sports Festival in South Korea, and was titled Mr Asia.[14] Following his 2017 win in Thailand, Pushparaj was gifted a house and a sum of Rs. 1 million, by the Housing and Constructing Minister at the time, Sajith Premadasa.

In 2018, he then went on to secure a silver medal at the IFBB Austrian International Bodybuilding Championship,[15] held on 19 May 2018.[16][17]

Pushparaj emerged as the World Champion at the 10th World Bodybuilding Championship (over 100 kg category) held in Bangkok, Thailand on 16 December 2018, where he was crowned Mr Universe.[18][6] In March 2019, he was awarded the Popular Sports Personality of the Year as a part of the Newsfirst Platinum Awards.[19]

2020-Present

In May 2020, Pushparaj participated in the Super Heavyweight division at the Arnold Amateur competition and placed 4th overall.[20][21]

Issues with Local IFBB Elite Pro & SLBF Corruption

Pushparaj faced several issues with the local Sri Lankan Bodybuilding Federation (SLBF). Arguably, this was due to a conflict with the SLBF over his criticism of the body's support of the IFBB Elite Pro.

Pushparaj accused the IFBB Elite Pro of being a corrupt body, especially in Sri Lanka.[22][23] As a result, the SLBF pulled their sponsorhip funding from his events, causing Pushparaj to fund his own flight tickets, and other associated costs, despite his victories. There was no official welcome when he arrived in Sri Lanka after winning the WBPF in 2017.

Pushpraj claims that the SLBF attempted to have him banned, by contacting the Global Bodybuilding Organisation, who organised the 2017 Mr Atlas competition in Los Angeles, and thats why his VISA was initially rejected.

SLBF then accused Pushparaj of using banned substances. He denied the allegations, and accused the federation of attempting to tarnish his image and prevent him from taking part in international events representing Sri Lanka. But despite these challenges, Pushparaj continues to represent Sri Lanka internationally, by super-ceding the SLBF and being represented by the globally ranked WBPF.

Contest history

  • 2012 - Earned IFBB pro card
  • 2013 - 1st (Gold) - IFBB Pro Championship in Oman [9][24]
  • 2014 - 1st (Gold) - Mr. Sri Lanka Contest
  • 2014 - 2nd (Silver) - AFBF 48th Asian Championship (IFBB) (100 KG Category) [25]
  • 2014 - 4th Place - Mr & Mrs Atlas and Fitness Expo Contest [26]
  • 2014 - 1st (Gold) - Open Weightlifting Championship in Oman (Under 100 kg)[12]
  • 2016 - 3rd (Bronze) - Wawan Classic Expo International Bodybuilding Championship 2016, held in Kuwait.[13]
  • 2017 - 1st (Gold) Mr Asia Overall Champion - 51st Asian Bodybuilding and Physiques Sports Festival in South Korea
  • 2018 - 2nd (Silver) - IFBB Austrian International Bodybuilding Championship
  • 2018 - 1st (World champion- Mr Universe) - 10th WBPF World Championship (100 kg+ category), in Bangkok, Thailand
  • 2020 - 4th Place - IFBB Pro Arnold Classic Amateur - Super Heavyweight Division

Awards

  • 2019 - Popular Sports Personality of the Year - Newsfirst Platinum Awards
  • 2020 - 10th WBPF World Championship

See also

References

  1. ^ https://www.news.com.au/sport/sports-life/the-black-lion-of-asia-takes-out-wbpf-world-bodybuilding-championship/news-story/40b5cf00d4a93d6752d53887752fe197 [bare URL]
  2. ^ "11th WBPF World Championships 2019" – via Official Website - World Bodybuilding And Physique Sports Federation - Mr. Univers by year.
  3. ^ "Lucian takes Sri Lankan Bodybuilding to new heights". 2018-12-18. Archived from the original on 2018-12-18. Retrieved 2022-12-20.
  4. ^ Peiris, Sudarshana (2017-08-26). "'Sri Lankan Hulk' Pushparaj conquers Asia". Retrieved 2018-12-17.
  5. ^ "World Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Federation". www.wbpsf.org. Retrieved 2022-12-20.
  6. ^ a b "Lucion Pushparaj wins 2018 World Bodybuilding Championship". www.adaderana.lk. Retrieved 2018-12-17.
  7. ^ "World Bodybuilding Championship 2018: Sri Lankan Hulk wins WBPF title". www.news.com.au. Retrieved 2018-12-23.
  8. ^ "Lucion Pushparaj | NPC News Online".
  9. ^ a b c d "I lift weights for the people of my country not for politicians or authorities - Pushparaj - Hard talk | Daily Mirror".
  10. ^ "Lucion". Muscle Engineering. Retrieved 2018-12-17.
  11. ^ "Lucion Pushparaj makes Lanka proud in USA". Daily News. Retrieved 2018-12-17.
  12. ^ a b "Anton Pushparaj brings honour to SL".
  13. ^ a b "Bodybuilding: Lucien Pushparaj wins bronze medal in Kuwait".
  14. ^ "Lucion Pushparaj wins Gold Medal at Asian Bodybuilding Contest". Sunday Observer. 2017-08-26. Retrieved 2018-12-17.
  15. ^ https://www.ifbb-austria.at/fotogalerie-der-oeabff-ifbb-austria/int-oesterreichische-meisterschaft-2018-29042018-bregenz/gesamtsieger.html
  16. ^ "Sri Lankan bodybuilder wins silver medal at Austrian International Championship | Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sri Lanka". Retrieved 2018-12-17.
  17. ^ lakmali. "Lucien Pushparaj wins 2nd place (pics)". www.srilankamirror.com. Retrieved 2018-12-17.
  18. ^ "World Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Federation".
  19. ^ "Lucian Pushparaj awarded Popular Sports Personality of the Year - Sri Lanka Latest News". Sri Lanka News - Newsfirst. 2019-03-29. Retrieved 2019-09-16.
  20. ^ "WATCH : Sri Lanka's Lucian Pushparaj wins 4th place at Arnold Classic Amateur, Super Heavy Weight competition". NewsWire. 2020-03-07. Retrieved 2021-10-22.
  21. ^ "Results 2020 – Arnold Amateur". Retrieved 2021-10-22.
  22. ^ Wenceslaus, A. "Bodybuilder Lucion Pushparaj denies taking banned substance | The Sunday Leader". Retrieved 2018-12-17.
  23. ^ "I lift weights for the people of my country not for politicians or authorities - Pushparaj - Hard talk | Daily Mirror". www.dailymirror.lk. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  24. ^ "Champion body builder Pushparaj determined to fight against the odds".
  25. ^ Championship Results 2014 - https://ifbb.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/48T-ASIAN-CHAMPIONSHIPS-2014-RESULTS-3.pdf
  26. ^ "Google". 9 February 2019.
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