New Delhi, Oct. 6 -- At the Hyrox Mumbai arena inside Nesco's Bombay Exhibition Center on September 19, the air buzzed with heavy bass, sweat and the resilient whir of weighted sleds pulled across the floor. Months of grueling preparation for indoor fitness competition paid off at the finish line as athletes collapsed in both exhaustion and exhilaration, cheered on by friends and family in the stands.

Behind the medals and pictures of the event lies a demanding physical-and financial-discipline that these athletes had to power through. Signing up for Hyrox with an Rs.8,500 pass comes with the costs of specialized training, carbon-plated gear, sports nutrition, travel and recovery. These expenses recur through the months leading up to the...