Renowned bodybuilder and sports administrator Harkanta Borgohain passed away on November 27, 2025, Thursday. He was one of the earliest figures to bring national and international recognition to bodybuilding from Assam.

Born on March 3, 1948 at Ouphuliya Tea Estate in Sivasagar district, Borgohain began training as a school student in Messagarh village, where no fitness facilities existed at the time.

His determination drove him to travel around 10 kilometres daily to the Cosmopolitan Club in Sivasagar to practise.

Borgohain later joined the Indian Air Force, where he continued his bodybuilding journey.

His achievements include 11 Mr Air Force titles, 7 Mr India titles, and a bronze medal at the Mr Asia competition in Kuala Lumpur. These feats placed Assam firmly on the national bodybuilding map during the 1960s and 70s.

After two decades of service in the Air Force, he worked in various sports institutions: the State Sports Council, Directorate of Sports (Assam), and the Sports Authority of India (SAI), from where he retired as Director.

Borgohain remained a respected role model throughout his life. He frequently advised young athletes to rely on natural nutrition- including fish, meat, eggs, and fruit- instead of artificial supplements for sustainable bodybuilding.

Widely acknowledged as a pioneer of modern bodybuilding in Assam, Borgohain’s legacy continues to inspire generations of fitness enthusiasts.

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