PRO League India Hosts Historic Asian & World Raw Powerlifting Championships in Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India, May 16, 2025 – PRO League India, under the leadership of Saad Khayoom, achieved a monumental milestone by hosting the first-ever Asian and World Raw Powerlifting Championships in India. This landmark event, held in Bengaluru, showcased an impressive lineup of over a dozen world champions competing alongside India’s finest athletes, setting new records and garnering international recognition for Indian powerlifters.
Founded by renowned powerlifter Sandro Eusebio, PRO League is a prestigious global powerlifting federation that conducts annual world championships. The Indian branch, PRO League India, is responsible for organizing and sanctioning all powerlifting events in India, providing an opportunity for Indian athletes to compete at the highest level without the need for international travel.
A Vision for Global Recognition
The primary objective of bringing PRO League to India was to offer local athletes, including the youth and senior powerlifters, a chance to compete in world-class, internationally sanctioned events right in their home country. By minimizing travel costs, PRO League India ensures that Indian athletes can showcase their talent on a global stage. The competition features drug-tested categories, reinforcing the federation’s commitment to clean sport and fair competition.
Sandro Eusebio, the founder of PRO, is participating in this historic event and plans to set a new world record, further cementing his legacy in the sport. The competition also highlights Saad Khayoom, a multiple-time national and world champion, who made history by being the first Indian to host the World Championships on Indian soil.
Notable Achievements & World Records
The championship saw impressive performances from both male and female athletes, with over 50 male athletes and 24 female athletes competing for the title of world champion. Some of the standout performances include:
Female Athletes:
- Evelyn Eisensehr (Hungary) – World Champion and Best Overall Bench Press with a 127.5 kg lift.
- Filipa Vicente (Thailand) – Asian Champion in five events, also winning Best Overall Squat and Bench Press among tested athletes.
- Yusuf Maryam (7 years old) – The youngest Asian and World Champion, winning two events in each championship.
- Nami Rai – Triple Asian Champion, Extreme League World Champion, and Best Overall in Full Powerlifting, Deadlift, and Push-Pull.
Male Athletes:
- Sawood Ur Rahman and Yusuf Sawood – Asian and World Champions in five events each.
- Puneeth Alva – A Quintuple Asian Champion, achieving his lifelong dream of competing internationally.
- Masters Athlete RB Singh (67 years old) – Double World Champion.
- Shaikh Arif Pasha – Asian and World Champion in Bench Press (Masters-2).
- Other notable winners: Maximus Aurelius Aranha, Rajesh Duhan, Sahil Chaudhari, Adarsh Pawar, Vaibhav Rathi, Arvind S, Ajay Srinivas, Harsh Anand, Atharv Dangwal, Biren Rout, Darji Rohit, and Vihan Bhargava.
Luke Thomas (8 years old) became the youngest male athlete to compete in the PRO World Championships, finishing as the runner-up.
A Family Affair at the World Championships
One of the most unique aspects of this event was the participation of India’s first-ever powerlifting family – Sawood Ur Rahman, Mehak Sawood, Maryam Sawood, and Yusuf Sawood. This family of champions competed together, making history as the first powerlifting family to compete in such prestigious international events.
A Historic Event for Indian Powerlifting
The PRO League India event is a landmark achievement in Indian sports, particularly powerlifting. With its transparent selection process and commitment to clean, fair competition, PRO League India has helped bring global recognition to Indian athletes. As the first such event hosted in India, it marks the beginning of a new era for Indian powerlifting, paving the way for future international championships and ensuring that Indian athletes continue to excel on the global stage.
Looking Ahead
PRO League India is committed to organizing more international championships, providing Indian athletes with continued opportunities to compete against the world’s best. With the growing popularity of powerlifting in India, this event has set the stage for even greater achievements and recognition for Indian athletes.
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