Patna: Two young fencing talents from Bihar have been named ‘Khelo India Athletes’ under the Sports Authority of India’s flagship development scheme, marking a proud moment for the state’s growing sports culture. Keshar Raj and Ravi Kumar Yadav, both hailing from Motihari, have been selected for residential training and high-performance development in the disciplines of foil and épée, respectively.
The announcement was made by the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the Bihar State Sports Authority, Ravindra Shankar, who confirmed that their selection followed recommendations from the Talent Search Committee comprising national experts and selectors. Out of eight athletes chosen nationwide in fencing, two are from Bihar.
Both players will now receive training, sports equipment, and health insurance at a Khelo India High Performance Centre, with benefits commencing from June 4, 2025.
Ravi Kumar Yadav recently clinched a bronze medal in the épée event at the Khelo India Youth Games 2025 held in Rajgir, Bihar. His earlier achievements in the 2024–25 season include a silver in the Under-17 épée singles at the 68th School Games held in Jammu and Kashmir, and a bronze at the Under-17 Nationals hosted in Rudrapur, Uttarakhand. He also represented India this year in both the Cadet World and Asian Championships.
Keshar Raj’s track record includes a gold in the foil singles event at the 68th National School Fencing Under-14 Championship in Jammu and Kashmir. She also secured a bronze at the Under-14 Nationals held in Cuttack, Odisha, and another bronze in the same category during the 2023–24 season. Her gold medal performance in the Khelo India Asmita League further established her as one of Bihar’s top emerging athletes.
Both athletes were trained at the District Fencing Training Centre located in the Sports Bhavan, Motihari, and are currently honing their skills at the National Centre of Excellence in Guwahati.
