Bhagalpur/Patna: In the heart of Bhagalpur, where the Sandis Compound has been buzzing with youthful energy for the Khelo India Youth Games 2025, one sharp-eyed contender is quietly making headlines — and he’s just 16. Tamil Nadu’s Smran Sarvesh has made it to the final of the Under-18 men’s recurve individual archery event, becoming the sole representative from his state in this category.
Sarvesh is set to face Maharashtra’s Ujjwal Bharat Olekar in Thursday’s title clash, where he’ll aim not just for a gold medal, but redemption from past performances. “I hope I won’t repeat the mistakes I made in the last two tournaments,” Sarvesh told reporters after his semi-final win. “My first round wasn’t great, but today I came in with a different mindset. I played from the heart.”
Despite his youth, Sarvesh’s archery résumé already spans international waters. He debuted in the Youth International Championship in Taipei in September 2024, finishing just shy of the podium in fourth place. Since then, he has represented India at the Asia Cup in Bangkok earlier this year and secured a top-8 finish at a national championship in Dehradun.
Sporting ambition clearly runs in the family — his mother serves as a Superintendent of Police in Tamil Nadu, and it was she who first nudged him towards shooting at the age of five. “But since you have to be at least eight to start shooting, I took up archery as practice,” Sarvesh recalls. “Both are precision sports, so it made sense.”
Now a Class 10 student, Sarvesh is not just aiming arrows but also setting sights on a future in professional archery. As a beneficiary of the Khelo India scheme, he receives Rs 10,000 per month, along with additional scholarships from the Tamil Nadu government and the Reliance Foundation. “The scholarship really helped me develop interest and confidence in the sport,” he said. “At this age, when you’re thinking of a career, financial support makes a big difference.”
Asked what’s next after Bhagalpur, Sarvesh doesn’t hesitate. “The Youth World Championship in Canada this August,” he says. “The trials are in Pune on the 22nd. But right now, I’m fully focused on winning the final here. One arrow at a time.”
As Bihar plays host to the Khelo India Youth Games, stories like Sarvesh’s offer more than medals — they showcase the growing promise of India’s sporting future, one young champion at a time.
