Sirsa teens script sporting success stories

An under-19 cricketer who steadied India in a tense match against Pakistan and a teenage para-athlete who won a medal in Dubai have emerged as new symbols of India’s growing youth sports talent. Both athletes come from modest families in Haryana’s Sirsa district.

Kanishk Chauhan came into the spotlight on December 14 during the under-19 Asia Cup match against Pakistan at the ICC Academy Ground in UAE. India were under pressure at 173 for five when the right-handed batter walked in.

Chauhan began cautiously before gaining confidence and playing controlled shots along the ground. He later lifted the Indian dugout by pulling a bouncer from fast bowler Ali Raza over deep fine leg for a six. Chauhan scored 46 runs, including two fours and three sixes, and also claimed three wickets with his off-spin. He was named Player of the Match.

The performance highlighted the rise of the 18-year-old all-rounder, who has since been selected for India’s under-19 World Cup squad and secured an Indian Premier League (IPL) contract with Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

Born on September 26, 2006, in Jhajjar district, Chauhan comes from a modest family. His father, Pradeep Kumar, is a farmer, while his mother, Sarita, is a homemaker. He began formal cricket training at a Ghaziabad academy at the age of four.

Sirsa Cricket Association secretary Dr Ved Beniwal said that in 2014, Chauhan’s family moved from Jhajjar to Sirsa so he could train regularly at Shah Satnam Stadium. Dr Beniwal described him as a balanced all-rounder whose progress reflects years of disciplined training.

Chauhan made his under-19 international debut in 2024 against England, scoring 114 runs and taking eight wickets across five one-day matches. He was named Best All-Rounder of the series. He later toured Australia and featured in domestic tournaments, performances that led to his Asia Cup and World Cup selections.

At the domestic level, Chauhan has been signed by Royal Challengers Bengaluru for the 2026 IPL season at a base price of Rs 30 lakh, according to his coach Jaskaran Singh.

“I have learned from both wins and losses,” Chauhan told The Tribune. “I want to keep improving and contribute more to my team.”

Another young athlete from Sirsa district, 17-year-old Jyoti, has also drawn attention after winning a bronze medal in the under-20 category at the Para Asian Youth Games in Dubai. Born with a disability affecting one leg, she competes in shot put, javelin throw and discus.

Jyoti studies at PM Shri Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in the Odhan block and comes from a middle-class family in Ellenabad. Her father, Vijaypal, works as an earth-moving machine driver, while her mother is a homemaker.

Her interest in sports began in 2022 after attending a training camp for children with disabilities organised by the Aditya Mehta Foundation in Haridwar. Inspired by fellow athletes, she began training seriously and has since won 20 medals at state, national and international levels, including nine gold medals.

Jyoti was honoured with the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar by President Droupadi Murmu on Veer Bal Diwas and later met Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Speaking about her ambitions, she said she hopes to represent India at the Paralympics and win a gold medal.

“I was told many times that I could not do anything,” Jyoti said. “But with confidence and support from my parents and coaches, I kept going.”

Both athletes say their journeys prove that background and physical challenges need not limit ambition, as long as discipline, support and belief remain strong.