TNR News Network
Vaishali (Bihar): In a moment of immense pride for Bihar and the entire nation, Sweety Kumari, the daughter of a truck driver from a modest village in Hajipur, has been selected to represent India at the World Youth Savate Championship-2025, set to be held in Uzbekistan’s Tashkent from July 23 to 27.
Her selection was officially confirmed by Shihan E. Rahul Srivastava, Secretary of the Bihar State Savate Association, who handed Sweety her selection letter and confirmed her travel arrangements. Her inclusion in the national squad was based on her outstanding performances in past tournaments — notably, her double gold medal wins at the South Asian Savate Championship-2024 and a silver medal at the Asian Savate Championship in Indonesia.
“This is not just a proud moment for Bihar, but for all of India,” said Shihan Srivastava. “For the first time, India has qualified to participate in the World Youth Savate Championship. The fact that Bihar’s athletes are leading this historic opportunity is a matter of great pride.”
Sweety hails from Saidpur Rajouli, a small village in Hajipur. Her father Bhushan Kumar Rai is a truck driver, and her mother Chinku Devi a homemaker. Despite limited resources, Sweety’s determination and discipline have made her a role model for countless young girls across the country.
In addition to Sweety, two other athletes from Bihar — Priyam Karn and Yash Raj — have also been selected for the Indian team. Priyam won a bronze medal in the cadet category at the Asian Savate Championship in Indonesia, while Yash Raj secured his spot with two gold medals at both the National Federation Cup and the National Savate Championship.
The selection of three athletes from Bihar for this world-level event underscores the growing prominence of Savate (French boxing) in the state. “If we are once again given the responsibility of coaching the Indian team, we are confident India will raise its flag high in Uzbekistan,” added Shihan Srivastava.
Recently, Savate was also featured in the Delhi Olympic Games held from May 20 to 27, a breakthrough moment that has sparked fresh hope among Bihar’s athletes, especially with Savate now included under the Bihar Olympic Association. Should the Bihar Olympic Games take place this year, local athletes could get the same platform as those in Delhi to compete at higher levels.
The selected athletes expressed deep gratitude to their club “Raas World Martial Arts” and their grassroots coach Suraj Pandit. “It is only because of Raas World that we dare to dream of creating history for India,” said Sweety with heartfelt emotion.
