One such demanding discipline is powerlifting and strength lifting. These sports require intense physical conditioning, precise technique and unwavering mental control. Athletes spend years perfecting a single movement, often away from attention or applause. Among the Indian athletes who have steadily pushed their limits in this space is Rohan Shah, a powerlifter and strength athlete from Chhattisgarh.
Rohan belongs to Bilaspur, where his early exposure to sport shaped his outlook. His father, Rajesh Shah, represented the Railways in badminton. “Sport teaches you discipline before it teaches you success,” Rohan reflects, crediting his family for grounding him early. Over time, he gravitated towards strength-based disciplines and trained under coach Surisetti Kumar, gradually building his foundation in powerlifting and strength lifting.
His first major international appearance came in 2019 at the World Strength Lifting Championship held in Thailand, where he won silver medals. In 2020, Shah represented India at the World Cup Powerlifting Championship held in Kyiv, Ukraine. Competing in the 90 kg weight category, he won gold medals in the deadlift and bench press events. The same year, he competed at the Chhattisgarh State Strength Lifting Championship in Balod, earning a silver medal while representing the Bilaspur team, which finished first overall.
Shah returned to international competition in 2022 at the World Strength Lifting Championship in Kyrgyzstan. Competing in the senior category, he won bronze medals in strength lifting and incline bench press events.
The year 2023 was another important phase. He won a gold medal at the 2023 International Strength Lifting Championship held in Kathmandu, Nepal. Later that year, he competed at the 10th World Strength Lifting and Incline Bench Press Championship in Hyderabad, securing two silver medals.
His competitive run continued in 2024 at the World Strength Lifting Championship in Kazakhstan, where he won one silver and one bronze medal. In 2025, he competed at the same championship in Thailand, adding one gold and one silver medal to his record. “There are no shortcuts in strength sports. You either show up daily or you fall behind,” Rohan says.
Beyond strength lifting, Rohan has also competed in athletics. In 2021, he won a bronze medal in the shot put event at the 3rd National Masters Athletics Championship held in Varanasi. The experience, he believes, helped him improve overall athletic balance and technique.
Outside competition, Shah has participated in public forums. In 2024, he delivered a TEDx talk on long-term discipline and career transitions. In November 2025, he addressed the Global Leadership Summit at Keble College, University of Oxford, becoming the first person from Chhattisgarh to speak at the institution.
Born on 3 October 1991 in Bilaspur, Shah also competed at the school and state levels in swimming, water polo and handball, including participation in the CBSE National Level Swimming Championship, before moving into strength sports.
