New Delhi, Dec. 18 : Union Minister for Railways and former chief minister of Bihar Lalu Prasad Yadav was at his best when he announced to award a visiting body builder with 500,000 rupees on Wednesday.

Mir Mohtesham Ali, 33, had come to the Rail Bhavan, the Ministry of Railways' main office, in the national capital for a courtesy meet with the minister. The latter was highly impressed when the body builder showed him his solid muscular built.

Lalu Prasad appreciated Mir Mohtesham Ali, who is an employee with the Indian Railways, for his outstanding performance in the Musclemania World Bodybuilding 2008 contest held at Las Vegas in November, in the heavy weight category of 90 kilograms.

"This body builder won a silver (in fact, bronze) medal in a recent body building competition. He is a fourth grade employee in the Railways and I will upgrade him to the ''C'' category and also give him a cash reward of 500,000 rupees. He is a young man and is doing a good job," said Lalu Prasad Yadav, the Union Minister for Railways.

Standing 6 feet 2 inches, Mir Mohtesham Ali Khan has scores of trophies to his credit and bubbling with confidence he had participated in the Musclemania World Bodybuilding 2008 contest.

Apart from Mohtesham, another bodybuilder from India, Prakash fared exceedingly well in this contest and won the gold medal in the lightweight category.

There were five categories in which 400 bodybuilders from 26 nations participated and flexed their muscular muscles. (ANI)