With BOSM 2026 fast approaching, the BOSM English Press interviewed Utkarsh Sarma, the captain of the bodybuilding team at BITS Pilani.
Utkarsh talked about how bodybuilding was often confused with powerlifting, despite both sports having very different objectives. While powerlifting was centred around lifting the maximum possible weight in exercises such as squats, bench presses and deadlifts, bodybuilding was judged primarily on physique—with posing, symmetry, and overall presentation playing a key role in determining the rankings.
Utkarsh relayed that the BITS Pilani bodybuilding team consisted of over 20 members, including five to six members with previous experience from BOSM 2025, who helped train the recruits. He added that many of the juniors had little prior experience with posing when they joined, for which the seniors regularly conducted posing sessions to help them improve their technique. He then outlined the competition structure, which would begin with an elimination round, followed by quarter turns where participants display their front, sides and back to the judges, before moving on to individual rounds, where the top three contestants were chosen. He highlighted that the competition had been kept open to all weight classes, allowing participants ranging from 40 kg to 100 kg to compete.
Utkarsh explained that preparing for BOSM or any other tournament was a months-long process. Training involved five to six days of work each week, with four to five days dedicated to weight training and one to cardio. Nutrition was equally demanding—with members of the team having to cut down on junk and oily food while tracking their calorie, protein, and carbohydrate intake. Closer to the fest, factors such as water and sodium intake would also be adjusted as part of their preparation. He added that members needed to know how to flex and showcase different muscle groups effectively, noting that even someone with a well-developed physique may not make it to the top five if they were unable to do so.
Utkarsh emphasised how maintaining this commitment alongside tutorial tests, lectures, and projects required considerable amounts of discipline and sacrifice, pointing out that members were expected to stay committed to both their academics and training with an equal amount of focus, even if it sometimes meant missing parties, birthdays, or other social events.
When asked about his own experience with the sport, Utkarsh—currently in his fifth and final year—spoke about how he initially trained in powerlifting before being introduced to bodybuilding by his seniors, who encouraged him to compete. He described bodybuilding as something that made him more disciplined—not only in the gym, but also in managing his time, academics, and personal commitments.
On a parting note, Utkarsh encouraged the General Body Members (GBM) to recognise the preparation, discipline and athleticism behind the sport, instead of viewing it merely as people with good physiques posing on stage. He also hoped to attract more attention to the sport, which remained relatively new on campus.