In a remarkable display of skill, discipline, and determination, Mohd Yasser, a 14-year old young and promising boxer hailing from Rajouri, Jammu and Kashmir, secured the Gold Medal at the 4th Sub Junior (Under-15) Boys and Girls National Boxing Championship 2025 which held from August seven to August 13 at Galgotias University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh. His achievement marks a significant milestone not only in his budding career but also in the sporting history of the region.

Yasser, hails from a poor background, currently living in a half damaged building of DIET, Rajouri with his mother, a younger brother and a sister. Six years ago, they were living in their own small house at Bela Colony, Rajouri. They lost their house in an eviction drive in the colony by district administration. The destruction, it has been learnt, not only left them homeless but it also took the life of his father who couldn't bear this loss. Thereafter, the family accommodated at a corner of the damaged building of DIET Rajouri which even lacks the basic necessities of living and surrounded by a worst environment.

The condition was such that they had nothing to eat and nowhere a genuine roof to live under. They didn’t even get the meal of two times a day. Both the brothers were very fond of sports, so they used to keep themselves engaged with boys who played cricket at sports stadium Rajouri. In the field of cricket grounds and among the locality they began to be known by the names of Bahi (bada bahi and chotabahi). All the players from the cricket community always helped them within their capacities whether it was an ordinary day or a big occasion like Ramadan or Eid.

The contribution of cricket fraternity helps them a lot to inculcate moral and ethic values. Many times, they raised the issue with the district administration and local representatives, hoping for help, but nothing ever worked out in their favour. Their mother had no other option, so she worked in people’s homes to earn a little money to manage food  for them.Despite going through a lot of hardship and suffering, both brothers focused more on playing in the ground and sharing time with the sports loving youth.

With the time, when the indoor sports infrastructure was built at Sports Stadium Rajouri and Shabir Chouhan took over its charge as Assistant Manager, it came up with the hopes of rays to shine. The Khelo-India initiative led to the appointment of coach, Ishtiaq Malik to train the talented young stars in the field of boxing. Both the brothers enrolled themselves under him for the coaching. Despite  the hunger and poor conditions they never lost hope and continue to practice hard by breaking all the barriers and punching the pains. They keep themselves in beating all the odds and rest is the history which led Yasser from the streets of Rajouri to the National Gold Medalist.

Yasser’s victory is a testament to the growing talent pool emerging from the border districts of Jammu and Kashmir, an area traditionally underrepresented in national-level sports. Trained under challenging conditions and with limited resources,Yasser’s dedication to the sport and his relentless pursuit of excellence have set him apart as a standout athlete among his peers.

The Sub-Junior National Boxing Championship, known for identifying and nurturing future stars of Indian boxing, saw participation from hundreds of athletes across the country. Yasser’s performance was lauded for its technical brilliance, strategic execution, and composure under pressure, qualities that reflect his maturity far beyond his years.

Everyone from Rajouri including local sports authorities, boxing federations, and community leaders have hailed Yasser’s accomplishment as a moment of pride for Rajouri. His success is expected to inspire a new generation of youth in the region to take up boxing and other sports with renewed passion.

As India continues to invest in grassroots sports development, stories like Yasser’s highlight the importance of providing platforms for young talent, regardless of geography or background. His journey underscores the power of resilience and the transformative impact of sport in shaping young lives.

With this gold medal,Yasser not only cements his place among India’s most promising young boxers but also raises hopes for future international success. The nation watches with anticipation as this young champion from Rajouri continues his ascent in the world of boxing.

This is the time for J&K Chief Minister and Lieutenant Governor (LG) as also Sports Minister and district administration Rajouri to not only reward him with handsome remuneration for this achievement but also to rehabilitate and provide his family a suitable place with the basic necessities to live and to pursue his career.

--The writer is a Ph.D Research Scholar in History. He can be reached [email protected].. Mobile: 9622847656

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