When tailor Pintya Sable took the tape to measure Ashutosh Saha for his postman uniform in 2023, he was baffled. The chest measured 49 inches and the biceps 14.5 inches. These were not the measurements of the scrawny teenager he remembered sprinting through the Bhayander lanes. The khaki uniform was destined to be two sizes too small for a champion in the making.
From Local Lanes to World Stage
In November 2025, Ashutosh Saha's journey reached a historic peak. At the 16th WBPF World Bodybuilding & Physique Sports Championships in Batam, Indonesia, the 28-year-old postman clinched the bronze medal in the highly competitive 85 kg category. Competing against 34 national teams, Saha held the Indian tricolour high, becoming India Post's first-ever bodybuilding medallist.
"I felt like a superhero for a few moments," Saha recalls, describing the emotional event where his parents teared up and friends cheered. Yet, the champion's spirit was already looking ahead. "I know my potential. I could have done better. I've decided I will win gold in 2026," he stated with determination.
A Champion Sculpted by Sacrifice
Saha's foundation in athletics began not on the postal routes, but as a school sprinter. His bodybuilding journey started at 15, after his SSC exams, when his father suggested joining a local gym to avoid wasting vacation time. "My father used to work out. I think I am genetically gifted for bodybuilding," Saha admits. His body adapted quickly, transforming the lean teen from Bhayander into a formidable physique athlete.
By 2016, he was winning titles like Jr Mumbai Shree and Jr Maharashtra Shree. However, his ascent was nearly halted by financial hardship. Preparing for a national tournament cost nearly Rs 3.5 lakh for eight months of nutrition and training. "I couldn't afford it," Saha remembers. Seeing his heartbreak, his mother made the ultimate sacrifice, mortgaging her mangalsutra, gold chain, ring, and earrings to fund his Rs 3 lakh trip to the national tournament in Punjab in 2017.
This sacrifice fueled a clean sweep the following year, with Saha winning Jr Mumbai Shree overall, Jr Maharashtra Shree overall, and Jr Mr India overall. Just as his career soared, a devastating accident in 2019 shattered his left forearm. Doctors inserted 12 screws and a plate, telling him he would never lift weights again. "I thought everything was over," he says. After a year of recovery, he defied odds and returned to the gym.
Balancing Mail and Muscles
In 2023, Saha was selected as the only bodybuilder in an India Post recruitment drive for sportspersons. He joined as a postman at the Worli MDG under the Maharashtra Circle. The job came with punishing logistics: a three-hour commute from Bhayandar, long delivery rounds, meals on the go, and late-evening gym sessions. He faced resentment from some colleagues for his two-hour concession as a sportsperson, but the salary was crucial as he is the sole breadwinner for his family, with a retired father and a sister.
Despite these challenges, Saha clawed his way back to the top. In 2023, four years after his accident, he made a winning return at the Vashi Mahapaur Shree, taking the overall title. Over the next two years, he collected six state-level championships, five gold medals, a silver at Senior Mr India, and the overall trophy at DAK Shree.
After 2024, he strategically paused competing to build specific muscles, setting his sights on Mr World. In May 2025, he cleared the IBBF trials in the 85 kg category. His seniors at India Post, including Deepak Sir, Prajakta Madam, and Astha Jain, Head of Mumbai West Division, supported him with leave and assistance, enabling his historic win in Indonesia. Now, having taken his first international flight, the champion postman sets his sights on a new goal: joining the railways and, of course, that world gold in 2026.
