J&K boys volleyball team clinches gold at KIYG, 4 valley boys shine bright

Srinagar, May 9: Jammu & Kashmir opened its medal account at the Khelo India Youth Games 2025 (KIYG) with a gold in boys’ volleyball, defeating Uttar Pradesh 3-1 in the final.

As per a release issued on Friday, four young boys from the region offered a different storyline, with an amalgam of courage, resilience, focus and gold.

At the Khelo India Youth Games 2025 Bihar, the Jammu & Kashmir boys’ volleyball team opened J&K’s account in the medal tally with a gold by defeating Uttar Pradesh 3-1 in a hard-fought final. The scoreline — 35-33, 19-25, 25-17, 25-21 — tells its own story of a gripping contest, but the real story lay in the hearts of the players who made it happen.

Wani Mahir (Srinagar), Sahil Shamim (Anantnag), Abid Gulzar (Ganderbal), and Nasir Ajaz (Baramulla), as well as their team-mates, carried more than just the hopes of their team; they carried the weight of a land scarred by conflict.

Coach Naresh Kumar, a seasoned mentor who had helped J&K to bronze at past school games, called it a “victory of heart”. Crediting the hard work put in by his boys in the past couple of months, he expressed confidence in them, saying this is just the beginning and they have a long career ahead.

“This win means everything. Back home, people needed something to feel proud of again. We wanted to give them that,” said Abid Gulzar, his voice calm but reflecting his pride.

Wani Mahir, who has already donned the Indian jersey at the U-18 Asian Championships in Bahrain, said that the team wanted to bring something positive back home. Mahir and Nasir, both products of the Sports Authority of India (SAI) centre at Maulana Azad Stadium in Jammu, have been training alongside senior players, refining their skills for moments like these.

Meanwhile, Abid Gulzar and Sahil Shammim have relied on support from home. For Abid, the sport runs in his blood. Coached by his father, Shamim Ahmed, a former India player, Abid honed his skills in his backyard, learning the game from the ground up. Sahil has risen through local circuits, far from the facilities of big cities, but never short on ambition.

From makeshift courts to national podiums, their journey speaks volumes. “We hope our story shows that even in difficult times, something beautiful can rise,” said Sahil.

As the players hoisted their medals, it wasn’t just a victory on court; it was a triumph of hope, determination and youth daring to dream high above the net.

Khelo India Youth Games are part of the Khelo India programme that was launched on October 14, 2017. Khelo India aims to achieve the twin objective of mass participation and promotion of excellence in sports. The programme has contributed immensely to India’s sporting success, with several Khelo India athletes representing the nation at global events, including the Olympics and the Asian Games. Bihar is hosting the seventh edition of the Khelo India Youth Games from May 4-15 in five different cities of the state and Delhi. KIYG 2025 will feature 27 sports, and for the first time, esports has been included as a demonstration sport.