World Powerlifting Championship 2022

Raiyan Rahman, an 18-year-old youth studying at Mangrove school is set to compete in the World Powerlifting Championship 2022, in the sub-junior category (59kg weight limit) this August. This will be the first time someone from Bangladesh will represent the country in the international stage of powerlifting.

Powerlifting is a new sport in Bangladesh, introduced back in 2018. It's a strength-based sport consisting of three lifts namely: Squats, bench presses, and deadlifts.

The young powerlifter first joined a gym named MaxBurn back in 2019 with the intent to lose weight. "I used to be fat back in eighth grade and wasn't actually bothered by it until a friend expressed otherwise," said Raiyan. "I was depressed and started to feel ashamed by my own body. The feeling of hating myself is what motivated me to change."

From the left Raiyan Rahman alongside his coach Tahsin Ali

However, during his earlier gym days, he gained more weight instead of losing it. "I fell victim to a lot of misinformation and misguidance," noted the athlete.

"Most of the Bangladeshi gyms only have experienced trainers, instead of educated trainers," said Raiyan. "They usually train you to achieve a bulked physique, making trainees overeat for muscle growth. Following this, I suffered from mild Bulimia, which is an eating disorder where patients' intake large amounts of calories unhealthily."

"Powerlifting changed my life significantly," shared the young athlete, "You need to be extremely disciplined to maintain your physique and strength. This discipline has made me a better person by improving my health, focus and academics."

After the COVID-19 lockdown began in 2019, the gyms closed and Raiyan was left to exercise on his own.

"During the lockdown, I resorted to doing a lot of cardio exercises including running and skipping to burn-off my excess weight," said Raiyan. "By the end of the lockdown, my body transformed, becoming leaner by losing all the excess weight and developing my muscles in the process."

"By the time I rejoined the gym, I was already forming six-pack abs which got me really excited," added the athlete, noting, "As I had now figured out how to develop the rest of my body, I just started training by myself."

By 2020, after a year of self-training, Raiyan's figure underwent a massive transformation. "I developed a lean build with bigger shoulders, biceps, triceps, and stronger legs. Furthermore, I discovered that I was much stronger than other boys my age."

Where many regular gym members were only deadlifting around 80-90 kgs, Raiyan was lifting 190kgs, which was elevated to 200kgs under the tutelage of his coach Tahsin Ali.

"I met Raiyan at MaxBurn in 2020 and saw a lot of potential in him as a powerlifter," said Tahsin Ali, a coach and veteran powerlifting athlete. "He used to seek advice from us now and then. Seeing his efforts and immense discipline, I suggested that he participate in the National Powerlifting Championships 2021."

That was Raiyan's first powerlifting debut where he took the runner-up position, competing against participants much older than himself in the 59 kg weight category. Later he also joined a local tournament named "Metal War" playing against the best powerlifters in Bangladesh, where he eventually went on to bag second place.

"Tasin Ali became my coach since the when I started preparing for the National Powerlifting Championship, and he has been guiding me for the upcoming World Powerlifting Championships," said Raiyan.

"Powerlifting changed my life significantly," shared the young athlete, "You need to be extremely disciplined to maintain your physique and strength. This discipline has made me a better person by improving my health, focus and academics."

"Raiyan will compete against 13-15 athletes—mostly from USA, UK, Mexico, South Africa, and so on—at the World Powerlifting championship," shared Mominul Hoque, Founder and Secretary General of Bangladesh Powerlifting Association (BPA). "Being realistic about reaching the top five will be a hard task, but I want to see him achieve it."

"I have not thought much about the future. My parents and coach have supported me till this point and right now I just want to do my best and properly represent Bangladesh, and earn the country a medal," concluded Raiyan Rahman.