A V Ravi

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A.V. Ravi, also known as Gym Ravi, Kolar Ravi & Bangalore Ravi, is a well known and established Body Builder of India and an Icon of Natural Body Building. Being born into an illustrious family of sports persons. His father Venkata Ramanappa was a renowned wrestler, whereas his uncles Anche Ashwath & Arku Somashekar as well as his sibling A.V. Ramesh were Basket-ball players, having played for the State of Karnataka and India. His other siblings, i.e., A.V. Chandrakala is a Yoga champion & A.V. Hareesh is a former Mr. Karnataka.

EARLY lIFE

A.V. Ravi was born in Kolar, Karnataka, India, to Sri. Venkata Ramanappa and Smt. Seethamma. Born in an humble and backward background. A.V. Ravi did his early schooling at Government School, Kolar and studied at Government Boys College. Born into a family of avid sport persons, A.V. Ravi had informal initiation into body building during his toddler days when he used to accompany his father to Garadi Mane (Wrestling House). Initially Ravi started working out in the locally established Gradi Mane, which was bereft of all the technological advances we find in the present day Gyms. During those days, A.V. Ravi had an liking to join the Indian Army and was under the impression that a well maintained physique and body will get him an easy ticket to join the Army, got serious in raising his physique standards. Having trained relentlessly and encouraged by his sporting family members, Ravi took his baby steps in the field of Body Building way back in the year 1987, when being impressed by his physique, his College teachers gave him a chance to represent their college. Having taken on the mantle, Ravi fared successfully and was selected to compete in the University level Body Building Championship and excelled in flying colours. Subsequently, A.V. Ravi was destined to compete in the State level and won Junior Karnataka title (Karnataka Kishore), which led him to compete in the Nationals and won Junior India title (Bharath Kishore). Seeing the level of commitment and the physique maintained by Ravi, the Indian Body Building Association Officials who were officiating the Championship, selected A.V. Ravi to represent India at World Championship, Paris. However, due to paucity of funds, Ravi initially had second thoughts of participation in such an prestigious competition. But not to be left alone, his family and friends at Kolar, crowd-funded and ensured his participation, wherein Ravi secured Eighteenth place in the World. This initiation into serious International competitive Body Building Championship, emboldened and hardened the mild mannered A.V. Ravi, into an head turner. Being buoyed by his initial success. Ravi entered into professional Body Building full-fledged and ensured that the Indian Tri-colour flag was held high. Ravi, during his illustrious career has represented India at various and numerous Body Building Competitions/Championships and has had an par performance excellence in flying colours, viz.,:

INTERNATIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS

1. 1989-90: Paris – World Championship, Dec 2nd & 3rd – Eighteenth place; 2. 1989-90: Neboka, Japan – Mr. World Championship, Dec 13th to 15th – 4th place; 3. 1990-91: Mr. World Championship – Switzerland – 9th place in the World; 4. 1991-92: Indo-Pakistan One day International Body Building Championship in India – 1st place; 5. 1991-92: Mr. World Championship - held at USA, Los Angeles – Captain of Indian Team - 4th place in individual medley in the World; 6. 1992-93: Mr. World Championship - held at Spain, 9th place in individual medley in the World; 7. 1993-94: Mr. World Championship - held at Germany – captain of Indian Team - 11th place in individual medley in the World; 8. 1995-96: Mr. World Championship - held at Australia – 9TH place; 9. 1996-976: Mr. World Championship - held at USA, Las Vegas - 9th place in the World; 10. 1998-99: Natural Universe Body Building Competition - USA, Las Vegas – 7th place; 11. 2016-17: Mr. Olympia Body Building Championship – USA - Coach of Indian Team; 12. 2016-17: Mr. Asia Universe Body Building and Fitness Championship – Cebu City, Philippines – nominated as Coach of Indian Team and under his guidance won Junior Asia & Mr. Asia; 13. 2017-18: Mr. Asia Championship – Philippines – as a competitor in Master class won 9th place; 14. 2017-18: Mr. Olympia – USA – as a competitor in Master class, won 7th place; 15. 2018-19: Mr. World Body Building Championship – Philippines – as a competitor in Master class; Even at National level within India, A.V. Ravi has excelled in various Competitions/Championships and has brought laurels to Karnataka State, i.e.,

NATIONAL TITLES

1. 1989: Bharath Kishore (Junior India); 2. 1990: Mr. University – All India; 3. 1991: Bharath Kumar; 4. 1991: Mr. University – All India; 5. 1992: Paschim Bharath Shree; 6. 1992: Mr. University (All India); 7. 1992 & 1994: Bharath Shresth (Mr. India); 8. 1992 to 1994: Bharath Shree (Mr. India); 9. 1992 & 1993: Mr. Central Revenue (All India); 10. 1993: Mr. Saraighat, Assam (All India); 11. 1991 to 1994: Mr. South Zone; 12. 1993: Belgaum Lion (All India); 13. 1993: Swarna Shree (All India); 14. 1993-94: Mr. All India Civil Services; 15. 1995-96: Bharath Shresth (Mr. India); 16. 1997-98: Indian Team Trials; 17. 2000-01: Mr. South Zone; 18. 2000-01: Mr. Central Revenue;

A.V. Ravi has captained Indian Team 4 times at International levels and has played the role of Mentor to the Team, whenever required and is presently coaching/captaining the Indian Team and representing the Indian Team. Thus in consideration of the achievements made by A.V. Ravi in the field of Sports and as an upcoming Sports entrepreneur, the Government has awarded numerous prestigious Awards to A.V. Ravi, to name a few, viz., 1. 1992 : Dasara Award, 2. 1992 : State best Sportsman, 3. 1993-94: Ekalavya Award, 4. 1994-95: Sri Kempegowda Award, 5. 2017-18: Kannada Rajyotsava Award (NAKS), 6. 2017-18: Rasthra Veera Sangolli Rayanna Award (KKS), An important event in the career of A.V. Ravi was when A.V. Ravi was awarded the First Ekalavya Award way back in the year 1993-94. The said Award was awarded to A.V. Ravi along with other sporting giants, i.e., Ashwini Nachappa, Anil Kumble, Javagal Srinath and Rahul Dravid. Domestically also A.V. Ravi has excelled in various Competitions/Championships and has maintained his impeccable status as a Champion, i.e.,

STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

1. 1991-93: Karnataka Shrestha (Mr. Karnataka) – 3 times; 2. 1991-93: Karnataka Shree (Mr. Karnataka) – 3 times; 3. 1990: Karnataka Kumar; 4. 1992-93: Dasara Shree – 2 times; 5. 1991: Karnataka Kishore (Junior Karnataka); 6. 1991: Shree Hoysala; 7. 1992: Mr. Bangalore (University); 8. 1992-93: Bangalore Shrestha (Mr. Bangalore); 9. 1992-93: Bangalore Shree (Mr. Bangalore); 10. 1992-93: Sri Sahasra Arjuna Award; 11. 1993: Mr. Steve’s Classic; 12. 1995-96: Karnataka Shree (Mr. Karnataka); 13. 1993-94: Dasara Kishore;

Thus in his illustrious career, A.V. Ravi has in all won an impressive 43 Prestigious Titles, 6 Awards and has an unbeatable record of having secured a total of 90 Gold medals at different, domestic, national and international forums. The interesting aspect of A.V. Ravi, other than Body Building is, A.V. Ravi has also excelled in other Sporting arena, viz., Basket Ball (Captain of State and also Captain of South-Zone), Athletics, Cricket, Kabadi, Hand Ball and Wrestling. A.V. Ravi has represented the State and Nationals in these sporting events and has also won numerous medals and awards in his favour. Interesting aspect is that A.V. Ravi is an multi-sporting personality, not only having excelled in Body Building alone, but as well as other Sporting games and in all has won an impressive tally 120 medals in all, including Body Building. That during his initial days of success across various formats of Body Building, the Government of India, in lieu of encouraging sporting personalities, enrolled A.V. Ravi to the post of Inspector, in one of its prestigious Income Tax Department. Out of his sheer hard-work and disciplined lifestyle, A.V. Ravi excelled in both, i.e., sporting arena as well as work-place. Ravi has secured numerous inter-departmental Sportd Awards/Titles and recognitions for his professional work within the IT Department. Considering the contributions made by A.V. Ravi in demonstrating his Body Building skills as well as enlightening the same to the masses, the Government of India and the State Governments have felicitated A.V. Ravi, for his impeccable contribution. A.V. Ravi has ensured that the Indian Tri-colour flying high at major International events he has participated. He has had an unblemished career, with being recognized among the peers of the World Body Building circuit. Further A.V. Ravi is credited with having brought in the Gym culture to Bangalore. A.V. Ravi was the first person in Karnataka State, especially its Capital City, Bangalore to have started an Gym in the City, thus, this initiation of GYM to the City, earned him the surname of GYM RAVI.

PERSONAL FRONT

A.V. Ravi, is married to Smt. Jyothi, who is an home maker and they are gifted with an girl-child Miss. Chandana A.V.R, who is an avid swimmer. His wife has played an important role in his success. A.V. Ravi, relishes home made food and has never taken any substituents, proteins or any supplements for maintaining his physique. He is an teetotaler and ensures that he never misses home-made food. This Natural-diet partaken in maintaining his body structure has ensured A.V. Ravi is able to sustain his body even to this day despite his rigorous regime. He is popular among his peers for having maintained and sustained his physique naturally without any add-ons and is famously known as Natural Body Builder.Post employment at IT Department, A.V. Ravi shifted to Bangalore and had equipped his house with Gym materials for his personal training. The said facility has now become a Gym training hub and is an known land-mark as Ravi’s Gym and in recognition, the City Administration of Bangalore has named a Park and Bus-stop in his name as Ravi Gym Park and Ravi Gym Bus-stop. Due to persistent calls from his fans, Ravi was compelled to open his personal Gym for others. The said facility has trained numerous persons and famous film personalities, to name as few like: Megastar Chiranjeevi, Pawan Kalyan, Nagendra Babu, Varun Tej, Jaggesh, Rockline Venkatesh, Sharan, Toogudeepa Darshan, etc., he has also trained Javagal Srinath for an intermittent period. The said opening of the doors of Ravi’s personal Gym, was upon the persistent call of his fans, who have approached Ravi to train under him. Till-date the GYM has almost 48,000 patrons/members and has completed 28 years. A.V. Ravi is an philantorous person and never misses an opportunity to educate the society about the ill-wills of the surroundings. In pursuance of his will to do good for the Society, he has opened an Non-profit Organization, called as AVR Sports Foundation. He has campaigned against drug-abuse and has almost visited more that 4,000 schools and colleges across India and has campaigned regarding the same at sporting events, creating awareness against drug-abuse and highlighting physical fitness among the students. Whenever opportunity comes knocking, Ravi is not a person to back-track. He has conducted numerous camps and events to educate the masses about the present day ill-wills of the Society. A.V. Ravi, has been an relentless campaigner in highlighting the point of keeping a good and healthy body. A.V. Ravi has not forgotten his alma matter and has conducted numerous Body Building Championship to encourage the upcoming Body Builders, by bringing them to the mainstream.

FORAY INTO FILMS

Considering the immaculate character of A.V. Ravi, his name and fame in Body Building circuit and cute looks, the South Indian Filmdom was behind A.V. Ravi to act in movies and he took to Films as fish to water and has enacted numerous characters, mainly villainous character and co-actor roles. He has acted in more than 130 Movies in Kannada, Telugu, Tamil and Hindi Cinemas. He famous films in Sandalwood (Kannada) are: Sipayi, Suntara Gallee, Habba, Suryavamsha, Kote, Thriller Killer, Central Jail, Kalpana – 2, Appu-Pappu, Ravi Mamma, Mundeithe Oorahabba, Nannu Mattu Gunda, Tarakasura, etc., A.V. Ravi’s notable Tollywood (Telugu) movies are: Abba, Gabbar Singh, Stalin, Balu, Jalsa, Gudumba Shankar, etc., Till date A.V. Ravi has acted in more than 130 Cinemas.      

References

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