Career
Also known as Premchand Dogra. Degra lives in Hoshiarpur (Punjab) and trains budding body builders in his own gym. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1990 by the Government of India.
Born on (1955-1912-01) December 1, 1955 at Babri Nangal village in Gurdaspur district of Punjab, Premchand Dogra has striven hard to mould his body into a muscular delight.
He began his sports career as a wrestler after completing his matriculation from Government High School of the neighbouring Tibber village in 1973. lieutenant was only in 1980 that he developed an interest in body building and rose to be crowned Mr.
Punjab, Mr. North India, Mr. India (9 times in a row), Mr, Asia (8 times) and finally Mr.
World (Middle-weight class and Mr.
Universe.He is currently residing in the city of Hoshiarpur(Punjab), India.He is running a world class gym in the city of Hoshiarpur. The world title earned him the Padma Shri in 1990. Prem made his national debut by claiming a Bronze Medal in Middle-Weight Class at Darjeeling in 1980.
He followed it up by winning three Gold Medals next year that made him Mr.
Punjab, Junior Mr. India and Senior Mr. India 1981. He retained the title of Mr.
India in middleweight category 1984. He began his international career by securing the title of Mr.
Asia in Middle-weight Class at Karachi in 1983, a feat he was to repeat at Seoul in 1984.
Subsequently he switched over to Light Heavy-weight Class in Mr. Asia contest too, winning the title at Colombo in 1985, Taipei in 1986 and Malaysia in 1987. Degra stuck to Middle-weight Class in all the five appearances he made at the World Championships.
He first competed for the world title in 1984 at Las Vegas where he finished 14th, He moved up to 4th position in 1985 in Sweden and was named the Most Improved Bodybuilder of the year.
Prem Dogra turned professional in 1989 and the same year participated in Mr. Olympia contest. He is very much famous in Indonesia and in gulf countries.
1983 Asian Amateur Championships - IFBB, MiddleWeight, 1st.
