Hyderabad, 29 August 2025: The global stage for natural fitness is set to shine in Hyderabad as ICN (iCompete Natural), the world’s leading federation for Natural Fitness Modelling, presents its spectacular extravaganza, Deccan Uprising 2025. The two-day action-packed event, powered by Presenting Partner Wellversed, will unfold at the SR Classic Convention Centre, Shamshabad, on August 23rd and 24th, 2025.
With over 400 athletes from across India and abroad, spanning diverse age groups and categories, Deccan Uprising 2025 promises high-octane competition in bodybuilding, fitfashion, fitness modelling, and transformation challenges. Adding star power, Tollywood heartthrob Allu Sirish, a passionate advocate of natural fitness, will grace the event as a special guest.
Speaking about the event, Jay Acharya, President of ICN India & ICN UAE, and the Organiser of the Deccan Uprising 2025 said, ICN, is ‘I Compete Naturally’, it is the world’s largest natural fitness, natural fit fashion and natural body building platform. We have been supporting the athletes community and of course maximizing the human potential. We do multiple testing, one thing that separates us from lot of federations is our drug testing particle, polygraph testing and WADA particle testing, WADA being the World Anti-doping Agency. We do urine analysis sampling, which is sent back to America for drug testing. We encourage natural fitness and natural health. Our vision is to position India as the ‘Mecca of Natural Fitness’. With Deccan Uprising 2025, we are bringing global standards of fair, drug-free fitness competitions to Hyderabad, empowering athletes to showcase their dedication and passion while inspiring a new generation.Hyderabad has incredible local talent, be it natural fitness, fitfashion and body building. We have over 400 individual athletes competing, with over 950 entries. This makes Deccan Uprising 2025, the largest competition for our Federation, globally in 2025, out of the 70 odd events we conducted world over this year. This is a big deal because its done naturally, drug free, no performance enhancing drugs used. This is absolutely crucial to make sure people of India stay fit and healthy and promote drug free sports. This being an International competition, we will be taking Indian talent abroad to countries like Bali, Dubai, Australia, New Zealand, all through Europe, France, Italy, Belgium, in the days to come.
Joey Cantlin, Head Judge ICN INDIA; said, the natural fitness, natural fit fashion and natural body building competition has been growing exponentially in India, over the years. In the 12 years of my experience in this arena, judging in multiple different countries with multiple different federations, I can confidently vouch that ICN India is truly more than just a body building show, it’s a mega show. The two days of Deccan Uprising 2025, are going to be a breath taking show. Today’s kids are stuck to their digital gadgets, phones, iPads, obviously leading to rampant obesity, Type 2 diabetes at an young age, this kind of a platform gives them an opportunity to lead a healthy lifestyle.
Aditya, Co-Founder, Wellversed, said, we as a sports nutrition brand, are tying up with ICN to build an eco-system for natural body building in India. We are the Title Sponsors for Deccan Uprising 2025. The number of athletes participating in ICN competitions is surging year on year. Our aim is to promote natural body building in India holistically and ensure that the country makes a mark globally in this sphere.
The Diverse Categories of competitions include Physique, Classic Physique, Bodybuilding for Men and Bikini, Figure, Fitness Model, Sports Model for Women, alongside the popular Transformation Challenge and Fitfashion, where fitness meets glamour. The stage will host ICN Pros, international champions, fitness icons, lifestyle influencers, star athletes and influencers, alongside enthusiastic amateurs raring to make mark on the global stage. ICN-certified international judges, led by Jay Acharya, will ensure unbiased results through rigorous anti-doping protocols and fair competition. Jay Acharya is also an international judge, but for reasons of propriety refrains from judging Indian events, since he is the organiser.
The event will be showcased to a global audience of natural fitness enthusiasts through state-of-the-art LED stage production for a spectacular athlete and audience experience.
Spanning across three days, the encapsulating Deccan Uprising 2025, will witness Registration and meet and greet of over 400 athletes, participating in the event on Friday 22nd August 2025. On August 23rd and 24th the main competitions including, Men’s Physique, Men’s Classic Physique, Men’s Bodybuilding and Men’s Fitness Model along with Ms Bikini, Ms Sports Model and Ms Street Model, will be staged and the winners of each category will be crowned.
The competition is open to natural athletes who register via ICN India channels. To be eligible the athletes must comply with ICN anti-doping, including random and targeted off-season testing and in-season event testing.