Kathmandu: Umesh Rai of  Gorkhali Fitness defended the overall championship crown at the 17th edition of the Dharmashree Bodybuilding Competition in Kathmandu on Saturday.

Rai finished ahead of Lalit Dhimal from Galaxy Fitness in the overall category. Winner Rai received a cash prize of Rs 1.2 million and an 11kg trophy along with a trip to China. Runner up Dhimal won Rs 600,000 while Madhav Subedi of Dang finished third and walked away with Rs 300,000.

Ashim Babu Garhunge of Muscles & Fitness secured the fourth position overall and received a cash prize of Rs200,000. Binod Sunuwar of  Platinum secured the fifth position and received Rs180,000 while Siddhant Jasrotiya of Nerve The Fitness secured the sixth position and received a cash prize of 50,000 NPR.

Rai also became the third bodybuilder to win the Dharmashree title twice following Naresh Maharjan and Sanu Gurung.

The event was organized by Nepal Byayam Mandir, the pioneer of fitness in Nepal. Rai had secured place for the overall championship securing top finish in above 80kg weight category while Dhimal qualified as the winner of 80kg category.

The competition featured six weight categories with the winners of each category competing for the Dharmashree title.

Additionally, the second to sixth place finishers in each weight category received cash prizes of Rs 50,000, 40,000, 30,000, 20,000, and 15,000, respectively along with medals and trophies.