Jalandhar: Father and son duo earned fame at international level

Jalandhar: It is an inspiring father-son story. While wrestling coach Arihant Kumar trains young athletes in the sports department, his 17-year-old son Shriyansh is fast emerging as a rising wrestling star. Trained by his father, Shriyansh has already earned several accolades, including a silver medal in the 85kg category at the 7th Men and Women Boxing Championships held in Uttar Pradesh from April 20 to 27. Following his impressive performance, Shriyansh has been selected for Khelo India, which will be held in Bihar from May 9-15. He will also join the India camp for the Asian Boxing Championships. “If he performs well, he will be selected for the Youth Asian Boxing Championships,” Arihant said in an interview to The Tribune. Shriyansh’s journey in sports began when he was a child. “He showed interest and I started taking him along with me as I wanted him to develop a passion for sports,” Arihant said. Interestingly, unlike most boys of his age, Shriyansh does not use a smartphone. “I want to stay focused and avoid distractions. I don’t need anything that can hinder my development,” said the dedicated young wrestler. Arihant, who now trains over 30 athletes, including 22 girls, said he began his sporting journey late in life. “I didn’t start training seriously until Class 10. My father always wanted me to focus on studies and pursue a career in education. But when I trained under Dronacharya awardee Shiv Singh, I started winning championships. In 2016, I got a regular job in the sports department,” said Arihant, reflecting on his career. Now, Arihant has only one goal in life – to see his son compete and win international championships like the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and World Championships. He said, “We practice for about five hours a day and we never miss any training. No matter what, the practice continues.” While Shriyansh is preparing for the national camp, Arihant is hopeful that his son will perform well and win the Youth Asian Boxing Championship title. Shriyansh is also working hard to fulfill his father’s dream.