Bilal Bhat
In a city that often celebrates overnight success, 34-year-old Bilal Ahmad Rah stands apart—because nothing in his life came overnight. Every medal, every title, every podium he climbed came at the cost of sweat, struggle, and a heart that, until recently, was working at only 25 percent.
Bilal, originally from Lal Chowk and now living in Srinagar, has been in sports for more than two decades. His journey started in 1999 when he stepped onto a Judo mat as a teenager. Two years later, he was representing J&K at the nationals—an achievement that quietly shaped the rest of his life. From there came a long list of disciplines—Taekwondo, Wushu, tug of war, cricket, strength lifting, weightlifting, bodybuilding, and finally, powerlifting.
What people see today is the champion—the titles, the medals, the applause. What they don’t see is the boy who worked as a salesman to afford protein, who studied and worked shifts and still trained when others slept. “I have never taken a single penny from home. Since childhood I was independent… I had to earn everything myself,” he says, almost casually, the way people describe things only after surviving them.
This year, his story took a turn few athletes come back from. On 26 September, doctors detected edema in his heart. His heart’s functioning had dropped to 15 percent. He was admitted at SKIMS Soura barely 10–15 days before the World Powerlifting Championship in Karnal.
“Doctors told me no workouts, no heavy lifting… but I had faith. I knew Allah and my mother’s prayers would carry me,” he recalls.
He had no practice, no preparation—only months of pain and uncertainty behind him. But on 30 November, when the world championships concluded, Bilal stood with a gold medal, representing India in the 100 kg category. It was a moment that stunned even those who knew him well.
“Health is wealth. Say no to drugs. Work hard and trust the process. Don’t lose hope,” he said after the win, his voice calm but heavy with everything he had been through.
His heart today has improved to 43 percent, a significant recovery doctors attribute to treatment—but Bilal calls it “Allah’s mercy and my mother’s duas.”
Over the years, he has amassed titles that would fill a wall:
Mr. Jammu & Kashmir (Powerlifting) – 2012
Mr. Kashmir – 2022
Mr. Jammu & Kashmir – 2023 & 2024
National Champion – 2025
World Champion Gold Medalist – 2025
Yet he insists none of these came easy. “Bodybuilding is an expensive game. I struggled a lot. Boys today put pressure on their families for supplements. I never did that. I worked, studied, and trained together. That is why I value everything I earned.”
Bilal credits two things for his discipline—his admiration for Feroz Shah, the iconic Mr Kashmir, and his early obsession with Salman Khan, who inspired him to take fitness seriously when he was still a teenager.
Today, he works quietly, trains diligently, and spends much of his time guiding young boys—telling them patience is more important than shortcuts, especially steroids. “If you want to grow, stay clean, stay disciplined, work part-time, support yourself. Sports is not the enemy… lack of patience is.”
His message to Kashmir’s youth is simple but hits hard:
“Life is tough, but you can make it beautiful. Study, train, struggle—don’t escape. Everything comes with patience and hard work.”
For now, the man with a once-failing heart stands taller than ever—carrying not just weights but an entire generation’s hope that success can still be earned the honest way.
