Patna – Fourteen-year-old Ayush Kumar’s silver medal in Sepak Takraw at the Khelo India Youth Games 2025 was not just a sporting achievement—it was a moving testament to courage in the face of personal loss.
On Tuesday, just hours after the death of his 78-year-old grandfather, Ayush took to the court for the men’s team final against Manipur. Despite his grief, the Class 9 student from Patna stood tall as part of the Bihar squad that pushed favourites Manipur to the edge before settling for silver in a thrilling 1–2 final.
The emotional weight of the day was evident not just on the court but on the sidelines. Ayush’s 19-year-old sister Khusbu, a fellow Sepak Takraw player, cheered through tears, balancing her support with updates on funeral rituals at home. “He was really close to both of us,” she said. “Today is the biggest day of Ayush’s career, and our grandfather would have been proud.”
Born to an auto-rickshaw driver, the siblings picked up the sport only four years ago, and Ayush’s resilience is being seen as a source of inspiration for young athletes across Bihar.
In a tightly contested men’s final, Manipur drew first blood by taking the opening Regu, but Bihar bounced back in the second. In the decider, Manipur clawed back from a set down to seal the gold with a 2–1 win (8–15, 15–8, 15–9) (11–15, 12–15, 15–11) (8–15, 8–15). Andhra Pradesh and Delhi claimed the bronze medals.
The women’s final saw Manipur continue their dominance, easing past Kerala 2–0 (15–4, 15–7), while Nagaland and Delhi took bronze.
Sepak Takraw made its debut at the Khelo India Youth Games this year, with Bihar hosting the seventh edition of the event across five cities and Delhi from May 4–15. The Games aim to strengthen grassroots sport and have seen several of its alumni progress to international competition.
