He Skipped Exams to Compete – Today He’s a Champion
- Flex and Fuel
- Mar 17, 2025
- 7 min read
In a country where academics are often seen as the only path to success, stories like Aryan Khandari’s hit different. At just 19 years old, he’s already carved a name for himself in India’s powerlifting and arm wrestling scene — and he’s done it without a coach, without formal training, and without compromising his values. What started as a simple passion turned into an obsession, then a mission — not just to lift weights, but to lift the mindset of an entire generation. This isn’t just a story about muscle; it’s about mental grit, family sacrifices, and a young boy from Dehradun proving that you don’t need shortcuts to become a champion. You just need heart.
Aryan started his fitness journey all by himself, without any trainer. He's completely self-taught — he learned everything by observing others and practicing on his own. His dedication is on another level. His girlfriend, though not involved in any sport, comes from a different background. On social media, Aryan receives a lot of DMs — people send him pictures, ask for video calls, and some even give out their numbers. Back when he had just 30-35 followers, he used to accept everyone’s requests. During that time, he came across some insane stuff — guys and girls making nude video calls. Sometimes a random girl would call and start flirting. But Aryan’s response was always straightforward — he’d instantly block them. He never liked any of that. He prefers using social media just to promote his sport, because that’s what truly makes him feel like he’s doing something valuable.
His next big goal is to go global, represent India, win medals, and make his parents proud. When asked if he misses studying, he admits that he doesn’t really miss academics — what he misses most are his school friends, the scoldings from teachers, sneaking food, and bunking classes. Some guys might see him now and think, “Let’s drop out and be like Aryan,” but he clearly says — never leave your studies. Do whatever your heart wants but always keep education in the loop. At least completing your 10th or 12th gives you a safety net. Aryan has already done that. He has a girlfriend, he’s in a relationship, and he proudly says he’s a loyal boyfriend. He doesn’t have too many close friends — just one best friend from his hometown named Om.
Talking about today’s hookup culture — the trend of rushing into relationships or sexual encounters — Aryan says he’s never felt drawn to that. He comes from a peaceful mountain region where people live simply and mind their own business. He was genuinely shocked when he first came across terms like “hookup” and “make out.” Even though he sees it happening all around him now, he doesn’t like it. He believes in being with one person and keeping life peaceful and focused. He’s seen many of his friends lose focus and get distracted because of this culture. It becomes a habit and drags them down. That’s why he stays away from it.
To all the young boys who want to build a career in the fitness industry, Aryan’s message is simple — stay focused on your goals. Don’t get distracted. Chase your passion with everything you’ve got. And if you’re in a relationship, be loyal, stay committed, and don’t waste time jumping around. That’s when things really start to fall into place. At just 19, Aryan is India’s strongman — not just in physical strength but with solid mental strength too. He’s loyal, disciplined, and proud of where he’s come from. If there’s a role model for youngsters out there, Aryan is definitely one of them.
The moment Aryan stepped into the fitness world; things weren’t easy. He remembers clearly how he used to train for nearly 8 hours a day, sacrificing everything else for his passion. That level of commitment took a toll — he wasn’t getting enough sleep and would often doze off during school hours. Teachers used to scold him, some even threatened to report him. During lunch breaks, while others relaxed or chatted, he would be found mixing protein shakes or eating his carefully planned meals — and even that annoyed the teachers. “What’s this guy even doing?” they would say. All this went on until class 10, after which Aryan decided to quit school altogether.
Dropping out of school was a bold move — one that shook his parents deeply. Like many Indian parents, they didn’t see a future in fitness. They thought it was a waste of time, especially at such a young age, with no guaranteed income. But Aryan had something to prove. He wanted to show them — and the world — that with passion, dedication, and skill, you could earn from anywhere, even in fitness. So, he dropped out completely. Not just that — he didn’t even show up for his 10th board exams. He simply told everyone at home that he was going to sleep and left for a competition instead, as no one was at home to stop him.
Aryan was crystal clear about his priorities. He knew studies were important, but at that point in his life, his full focus was on building his strength. He always told himself, “I’ll study later, maybe through open schooling. But right now, this is my time to build something solid.” His training routine was intense — 4 to 6 hours daily, sometimes even more. Two hours of cardio, two hours of football, two hours in the gym, and then two more hours of arm-wrestling practice at home. He had pulley setups and gear at home and barely gave himself a break.
With no sleep and no time for school, leaving academics behind felt like the only logical step. But money was still a huge hurdle. In the beginning, Aryan earned nothing. His mother, however, believed in him more than anyone. When he needed funds to travel for competitions or afford his diet, she quietly went to her parents — Aryan’s maternal grandparents — and asked for help, all without telling Aryan’s father. She would say, “Even if no one supports you, I will.” When her parents couldn’t help, she went as far as selling her own jewelry or pawning it to get Aryan what he needed.
That was a turning point. Aryan realized how crucial money was in sports. His mother went through so much just to support his dream — pawning jewelry, borrowing quietly, doing whatever she could to help him get to competitions in other states, to buy lifting gear, to afford supplements. Sometimes Aryan would ask for a product worth ₹5000, and she’d respond with pain in her voice, “Where do I even get that kind of money from?” But still, somehow, she always managed.
All of this — the sacrifices, the hustle, the grind — started from his hometown in Dehradun. And it’s what built the foundation of the strong, focused, and determined young man Aryan is today.
Aryan’s journey started in a space where very few believed in him. His family, like many others, only truly began to appreciate his efforts once the state and national powerlifting circuits started recognizing him. But the turning point came when he won a medal at the Asian level — that’s when everything changed. Until then, there was doubt, uncertainty. But after that moment, the pride was undeniable. His family, especially his parents, finally saw that what he was chasing was real.
Powerlifting, as Aryan sees it, doesn’t have a huge financial future in India unless someone’s incredibly passionate or manages to land a government job through it. There’s no big money in the sport. So why does he continue to do it? Simple — because he loves it. Heavy lifting gives him a thrill like nothing else. On top of that, it helps with his social media growth. People admire strength, they respect raw power. More importantly, Aryan dreams of representing India on the world stage. He wants to break the stereotype that Indians need steroids to be strong. He’s 100% natural and proud of it — a 19-year-old natural athlete defying odds with just passion and hard work.
He stumbled upon arm wrestling in the most unexpected way. At a powerlifting competition, he noticed “arm wrestling” listed on the form and ticked it just for fun — without any formal training. To everyone’s surprise, including his own, he won gold. He beat professionals purely on instinct and strength. That moment made him realize his potential in this unique sport. And today, at just 19, in his weight and age category, Aryan is practically unbeatable in India. While he humbly avoids saying “no one can beat me,” he admits he hasn’t lost in his class yet. Of course, he jokes, if a 200kg giant shows up, it’s a different story — but that’s not his weight class.
Arm wrestling, however, isn’t like bodybuilding or powerlifting. It’s a completely different beast. It requires insane technique, angles, and precision. One wrong move, and your hand can literally snap. Ligament tears, tendon injuries — they’re all common. In fact, Aryan is currently recovering from a serious injury — golfer’s elbow in his left arm. It’s been three months and still hasn’t fully healed. He’s still training with his right arm though, pushing through the pain. He admits arm wrestling has the highest injury rate among strength sports. One second of carelessness, and it’s over.
Outside of sport, Aryan’s life has started to settle. Things at home are good, the energy is positive. He’s in a relationship too — he met his girlfriend through social media. They followed each other, started talking, and vibed instantly. They’ve been together for a year now, and it’s a relationship built on mutual support and loyalty.
His day-to-day life is pretty grounded. He focuses on his meals, takes care of his body, and spends time with his girlfriend when he can. Right now, he’s in a bulking phase, so his diet is protein-focused — sometimes it’s clean, other times it’s KFC or eggs, whatever fuels him. There’s no rigid structure. Aryan has never followed a strict diet or a set workout plan. No trainer, no coach — he’s built everything on instinct, learning what works for his body through experience.
Aryan’s story is one of raw passion, insane work ethic, and staying true to yourself — even when the world doesn’t believe in you yet.
Credit - Tarun Gill
