IFBB India winners list- The journey of natural bodybuilding

The Two Roads to Glory: Understanding Indian Bodybuilding Federations

Before diving into the winners' lists, it's crucial to understand the structure of bodybuilding in India. There isn't a single "IFBB India." Instead, two main paths exist for athletes, a result of a global split in 2017 between the IFBB International and the IFBB Professional League.¹

1. The Path to Mr. Olympia (IFBB Pro League): For athletes aiming to compete at the Mr. Olympia, the pinnacle of professional bodybuilding, the journey goes through the IFBB Professional League.¹ To get there, an amateur must first earn an IFBB Pro Card by winning an
NPC Worldwide Pro Qualifier event.² In India, these crucial events, like the
Amateur Olympia India and Sheru Classic Pro Qualifier, are run by private promoters, most notably the Sheru Classic organization.³ This is the pathway to international fame and professional prize money.

2. The National Title (IBBF): The Indian Body Builders Federation (IBBF) is the nationally recognized body by the Government of India.⁵ The IBBF hosts the traditional "Mr. India" championships. Winning this title is a significant domestic honor and can lead to government jobs under the sports quota, but it does not provide a direct route to the Mr. Olympia stage.⁵

This report focuses primarily on the athletes competing on the IFBB Pro League circuit, as it represents the highest level of international competition.

The New Wave: Indian IFBB Pro Card Winners (2023-2024)

The hunt for the coveted IFBB Pro Card is the most intense battleground in Indian amateur bodybuilding. Events like the Amateur Olympia India and the NPC Worldwide Bharat Pro Qualifier are where dreams are realized. Winning an overall title here elevates an athlete to the professional ranks. Here are the Indian athletes who have recently earned their pro status on home soil.

Winners from the 2024 NPC Worldwide Bharat Pro Qualifier:

● Mohammed Araf S: Men's Classic Physique

● Amit Agre: Men's Physique

● Ravi Chaudhary: Men's Physique

● Priya Shah: Women's Physique

Winners from the 2023 Amateur Olympia India:

● Chaitanya Prabhu Puralachetty: Men's Classic Physique

● Anand Yadav: Men's Classic Physique

● Mohammed Mobin: Men's Classic Physique

● Soniya Mitra: Fitness

Winners from the 2023 Sheru Classic Pro Qualifier:

● Sunmeet Gill: Men's Classic Physique

● Sunny8x: Men's Classic Physique

● Reeta Devi: Women's Wellness

Clash of Titans: Results from IFBB Pro Shows in India

Once an athlete is a pro, they compete in the IFBB Pro League for prize money and a chance to qualify for the Mr. Olympia. The pro shows held in India are critical events on the international calendar, drawing top talent from around the world.

The Pride of the Nation: IBBF Mr. India Winners

The "Mr. India" title, awarded by the government-recognized IBBF, remains a highly prestigious domestic achievement. These championships often feature athletes from institutional teams like the Indian Railways, highlighting an alternative career path in the sport.

15th Mr. India (2024)

● Overall Champion: The overall "Champion of Champions" title from the official event in Ludhiana is not explicitly stated in available materials, though some sources name Ram Niwas Malik as a winner.¹⁹

● Men's 80 kg: Jayaprakash

● Women's 55+ kg: Engudam Kavita (Gold)

14th Mr. India (2022)

● Champion of Champions: Ram Niwas (Railways Sports Promotion Board)

● Team Championship: Railways Sports Promotion Board

India's IFBB Pro Icons: The Trailblazers and Current Champions

The list of Indian IFBB Pro bodybuilders is growing, thanks to a generation of pioneers and a new guard of dominant athletes.

The Pioneers Who Paved the Way

● Suhas Khamkar: A legend with 10 Mr. India titles, Khamkar became the first Indian to earn a pro card by winning the Mr. Amateur Olympia overall title in 2018, setting a new benchmark for Indian bodybuilders.

● Junaid Kaliwala: In 2017, Kaliwala made history as the first Indian to earn an IFBB Pro Card in the now-popular Men's Physique division, opening doors for a new type of physique.

● Varinder Singh Ghuman: Recognized as one of the earliest Indian IFBB Pros, Ghuman is also a famous vegetarian bodybuilder, proving that plant-based diets can build world-class muscle.

The New Guard of Indian Champions

● Bhuwan Chauhan: As one of India's most successful Men's Physique pros, Chauhan's victories at the Sheru Classic India Pro in 2022 and 2023 earned him coveted spots on the Mr. Olympia stage.

● Anand Yadav & Manoj Patil: These athletes represent the current competitive force. Yadav won the Men's Classic Physique title at the 2024 IFBB Bharat Pro, while Patil took home the Men's Physique win at the same event.

● Sunmeet Singh Gill: A rising star in Classic Physique, Gill earned his pro card at the 2023 Sheru Classic qualifier and immediately placed third in the pro show the same weekend—a remarkable debut.

The Women's Vanguard

The number of Indian female IFBB pros is on the rise. Reeta Devi (Wellness), Anamika Singh (Women's Physique), and Priya Shah (Women's Physique) are among the latest to earn their pro cards, joining pioneers like Moumita Mazumder. In the amateur circuit,

Pratibha Thapliyal made history in 2023 as the first Indian woman to win a medal at the IBBF World Championship.

The Future of Indian Bodybuilding

The future of elite bodybuilding in India is bright. The sport's growth is being driven by the IFBB Pro League pathway and the commercial success of shows like the Sheru Classic.⁴ The Men's Physique and Classic Physique divisions are booming, producing a steady stream of pro-level talent. While Indian athletes are winning on home soil, the next step is to secure major victories abroad and make a significant impact at the Mr. Olympia. With a strong pipeline of talent and a growing professional infrastructure, the global rise of Indian bodybuilding is only just beginning.