Binita Rai of Nepal earned ticket for Mr Olympia winning the women’s physique category during the first ever pro qualifier for Mr Olympia that was marred by misbehaviour from the organisers with the media.

Rai, the lone contender in women’s physique category, will now be eligible to compete in the Mr Olympia — the top body championships at the international level, in Los Vegas on February later this year. “I am over the moon to have secured the place for the mega event like Olympia,” said the 36-year-old mother of eight-year old boy.

Rai, a chronic lower back-pain patient, took to the sport to get rid of that and went on to become a bodybuilder. “Bodybuilding was not even in my dream. To get rid of the pain, I started physiotherapy and light workout at gym. My life started getting normal afterwards,” said Rai. “Later my trainer Rajin Bajracharya motivated me for strength workout and it has just been three to four years since I have done intense workout,” she said adding that there were huge challenges to participate in the big forum like Olympia. “It obviously needs hard preparation to compete in Olympia. I will consult with my trainer about Olympia,” said Rai who was participating in first international event and third in overall.

Jamie Do Rigo of United Arab Emirates who competed in men’s 90kg to 102kg division category was the overall winner of men’s bodybuilding event and booked ticket for Olympia. He will be joined by men’s physique winner Saurabti Sing of India and classic physique winner Amir Hossein Sadatnia of Iran in Los Vegas.

Sanu Gurung, the chief promoter and president of the organiser International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB) League Nepal, misbehaved with the media persons when he was requested to produce the details of the results. Gurung was asked to provide media with the detail results to publish in media but the organiser said it would take time. “If you don’t want to publish the news then don’t do it,” Gurung fumed at reporters. He also changed the statements about the number of participants and countries in the event.

On February 13, Gurung had told a press conference that the event will be participated in by 50-60 bodybuilders from 15 countries. But on Friday, he informed that only 20 bodybuilders from eight countries participated. During the event, Roelly Winklaar, the second runner-up of the last edition’s Mr Olympia, also posed on the sidlines of the event. Nicknamed ‘The Beast’, Winklaar is said to be a bodybuilder with the ‘biggest body’ in the world.