Ayush wakes up groggy. A typical teen, reluctant to leave the comfort of bed at 7AM. But what follows next is anything but typical.

By 8AM, he's in school - sitting through long periods, textbook open, trying to stay alert. School ends at 2:45PM. Most kids go home to nap or scroll through reels. Ayush rushes home, freshens up, and is out the door again. By 3:30PM, he's in the gym. Not for a casual session. But for 90 to 120 minutes of focused, disciplined lifting - squats, deadlifts, bench press, accessory work. Then it's tuition form 6:30 to 8:30 PM. A late dinner, homework and finally bed.

That's a day in the life of Ayush Bhan - 16 years old and already a national-level powerlifter. 

But his story, like most good ones, begins much earlier.

The Start of Strength

Ayush was born in Howrah, West Bengal, but raised in Bengaluru. He tried almost every sport growing up - football, tennis, badminton, judo. But nothing really stuck. "I used to lose interest in a few months," he laughs. The only constant was music - he sings and plays in his school band. But sport? It didn't click.

Until it did.

In 6th grade, his mom, a national-level shooter, enrolled him with a personal trainer. Not because she expected medals, but because she knew something important: the gym is not just for the body - it shapes character.

Ayush would accompany her to her aerobics class, sneaking away to life tiny dumbbells in the corner. "I used to just play around," he says. But soon, play turned into passion.

After a brief pause during the pandemic, Ayush resumed in 9th grade. And that's when the transformation began.

Powerlifting over Playtime

At 14, Ayush deadlifted 145 kg. "That's when I thought - maybe I should compete," he recalls. With no formal coach, Ayush pieced together his own training plan. Researching online, watching videos, learning from gym buddies. His biggest influence? Vijay, a fellow lifter at the gym who benched 160 kg. "He let me borrow his expensive powerlifting gear for my first competition," Ayush says with gratitude.

By 16, Ayush had deadlifted 210 kg, benched 100kg, and squatted 160 kg. He had also competed at the WRPF - India Nationals, finishing second in his category. And he did it all while juggling school, tuitions, and teenage-hood.

The Discipline is the Flex

Most 16-year-olds struggle with routine. Not Ayush. His discipline is jaw-dropping.

"I go to the gym six days a week. For me, it's like brushing your teeth - you just do it."

Even on days he's tried or sore from school, he doesn't skip. "Gym is the best part of my day. It resets me."

He writes his own programs - a hybrid of bodybuilding and powerlifting, also called power-building. He trains smart, includes de-load weeks, and listens to his body.

That's not to say he's immune to injury. He once hurt his back deadlifting with poor form. Another time, his wrist was in pain for days. "But I've learned to be careful. To rests when I need to."

Still, the gym isn't just a physical space for him. "Even if I'm alone there, it's like meditating. It's my safe space."

Fuel for Fire

Ayush doesn't rely on supplements. No fancy protein powders, no pre-workout drinks.

"I eat seven to eight eggs a day. Half a kilo of chicken. Rice, Bananas, peanut butter, veggies," he says.

He's aiming for 150-170 grams of protein daily - through real food. He's also learning to cut weight smartly for competitions, without sacrificing strength. His awareness of nutrition at such a young age is impressive.

"You don't need whey if you can eat right. It's expensive too."

Mind Over Iron

Powerlifting, Ayush says, teaches you more than how to lift.

"It teaches you humility. Some days, you fail your lift. You feel embarrassed. But you keep showing up."

He recalls dropping a heavy squat and the entire gym staring. "It was awkward. But next time I hit the PR, they all clapped."

It's a pattern: try, fail, show up, succeed. Rinse and Repeat. "Just showing up is a win," he says.

Even his school life has benefited. He may not love commerce or exams, but powerlifting taught him time management, grit and resilience.

Who said Teens Can't?

Teenagers are often underestimated. Lazy, Distracted. Always on their phones.

Ayush shatters that stereotype. He's not chasing instagram likes. He's chasing numbers on the barbell - and wisdom beyond his years.

"If someone my age thinks lifting is tough, I'd say - just start. You're missing out on so much joy."

He doesn't train to impress others. "It's for me. I love being strong. I love how it makes me feel."

His friends now come to him for advice. Some have even joined the gym, inspired by his progress. "We push each other. It's like iron sharpens iron."

More than Muscle

Ayush's vision is clear. "I want to deadlift 300kg in my 20s. Bench 150. Squat 200."

He's not rushing. He's building slowly. Smartly. Sustainably.

And more importantly, he wants to keep powerlifting as a part of who he is - not just something he did in school.

He may not know if he'll become an Olympic lifter or a coach someday. But he knows this: "Powerlifting taught me who I am."

Ayush didn't just build muscle. He built discipline, confidence, purpose.

For the Parents Watching

Many parents worry that lifting weights will stunt growth or cause injury. Ayush has a message"

"My mom supported me. She knew I needed supervision in the beginning. Later, I trained on my own. I'm still growing. I'm healthy.

He recommends parents get their teens a coach initially. "Let them learn the right form.Let them build habits."

Because for teens like Ayush, the gym isn't a trend. It's transformation.

The Bigger Picture

Ayush represents a new kind of athlete. Not a prodigy picked from a sports academy. But a regular kid who chose to be extraordinary.

He's not just lifting weights. He's lifting a generation of teens who now see powerlifting as more than brute strength. It's a path to discipline, identity, and mental wellness.

From being the quiet boy who once felt weak after a judo loss to becoming a national-level powerlifter with dreams of 300 kg - Ayush reminds us:

You don't have to wait to grow up to grow strong.

You just have to start. One rep at a time.

Ayush didn't find powerlifting. Powerlifitng found him. And it gave him what every teenager needs - belief in themselves.

Now it's your turn.

What will you lift? What will you become?