Pramesh S Jain
A young athlete from Karnataka has brought glory to India by winning a gold medal at an international Muay Thai championship held in Sri Lanka.
SriHarsha B.K,son of Bengaluru Traffic Police Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Kantharaju,emerged victorious in the prestigious International and Thai Martial Arts Asian Games 2026,organised by the International Thai Martial Arts (ITMA) in Negombo, Sri Lanka.
Competing in the highly competitive 57-kg Muay Thai category, Sriharsha represented India and delivered an outstanding performance throughout the tournament.
In the final bout,he faced a contestant from Pakistan and secured a convincing victory to clinch the gold medal, raising India’s flag on the international stage.
A native of Kanakapura taluk in Ramanagara district, Harsha achieved this milestone despite facing financial constraints and a lack of institutional support.
He reached the international level through sheer determination,rigorous training, and the unwavering support of his father.
Speaking after his victory,Sriharsha said that defeating a Pakistani opponent in the final and winning gold for the country was a matter of immense pride.
He noted that he had pursued his sporting career without any government assistance and expressed hope of representing India at the Olympics and other world-level events in the future.
He also appealed for greater financial support and encouragement for athletes striving to excel in international competitions.
Recognising the achievement of the young sportsperson, Bengaluru City Police Commissioner,Seemant Kumar Singh invited Sriharsha and his father to his office and felicitated them.
The Commissioner honoured the athlete with a garland and a memento,congratulating him for bringing laurels to the nation and the Karnataka Police family.
Sriharsha’s achievement has drawn appreciation from the public,with many urging the state government to extend financial assistance and better sporting facilities to talented athletes from rural and modest backgrounds so they can continue to excel on the global stage.
