Dinesh Shetty has emerged as the winner of India’s Ultimate Warrior. Dinesh who once weighed 100 kg resorted to weight lifting, boxing, CrossFit, and horse riding to stay fit.
In an interview with ETimes TV, Dinesh talked about his journey on the show and shared, “Still sinking in but feeling very good to receive so much love on social media, from people, it’s just crazy. When I started the show, I was just a normal guy, an event manager, and into fitness – boxing. I’m not a professional boxer though. Right from the start, the attitude or motive was not winning. This was the biggest break of my life. I had never taken a vacation, never stayed away from work for so many days. I was just trying to find myself and understand what I am capable of doing. After crossing levels, there was a point where I did not win the show, I just wanted the best man to win. I personally feel that winning would do more for the person from a professional background. It was my mentor, Mykel Hawke, who told me that it wasn’t about being a professional but about someone who can influence the youth, able to do better for people who are not able to pursue their dreams ahead. He also told me that he’d seen the potential in me right from the start. It was not about being the best fighter, it was a test of the whole character, having a 360 degree approach towards this whole show.”
Talking about his personal growth Dinesh said, “With time, the confidence also increased, and even at the end of the episode, the last fight, it was not about winning. We all loved the experience because it wasn’t enmity in the ring but we were more than family when we got back in the dormitory. The biggest test is that we loved each other and again we were put to fight with each other. I’ve learned that it was a test of character and sportsmanship. It was not just about winning. I won only because of every virtue that they tested around.”
When asked how he’ll use the prize money, he replied, “I already had a lot of money before that (laughs). I don’t want to get into details but I’ve done a lot of help for fellow contestants from the show. I could build an infrastructure for a couple of them, who couldn’t afford it and would have to probably compromise being a professional in the sport to getting on to a job, which I did not want. I built an infrastructure that will generate money for them and it has started too. I don’t want to talk in details because I don’t want to hype it. The winning amount is going back towards the betterment of the people from the industry and for the betterment of the few of the contestants from the show. The only thing that I am going to use is the package that I am going to get at Tiger Muay Thai.”
Talking about the bonds he developed on the show, he said, “I connected with everybody but the bond that I built with Rohit Choudhary (1st runner up) is amazing. We do video calls almost twice a day. Rohit, Deepak Rao, Sandeep, and I have built a bond for lifelong.”
He added, “I am constantly in touch with my mentors. Mykel Hawke is a Green Beret in the US Army. He fought the darkest wars a man could fight. He sent me one of the hats that he had worn in the war and that is more than anything that I won. I still have that and I will cherish it all my life. We have a conversation almost every day either via mail or on chat. I speak to Shaun (Kober) sometimes, Shifu (Kanishka) sir video calls me, and three days ago, he video called me from Canada to say that his wife is the biggest fan of mine now. So, I am constantly in touch with them and these guys have made me a better man. They have taught me that it’s not only about strength but about being a better person. I know myself much better now.”