Once a daily-labourer, fourth-time Asiad campaigner Akash leads Indian squad buoyed by talent pipeline from Manipur

KOLKATA: When India men’s sepak takraw captain Akash Yumnam steps onto the court in Nagoya on Monday, it will mark the latest chapter in a journey that has taken him from a daily-wage labourer in Manipur to a four-time Asian Games player.The veteran, who used to be a footballer and even spent a month training with NEROCA FC, is set to compete in his fourth Asian Games and remains one of only three members of India’s historic bronze medal-winning men’s regu team from the 2018 Games.But his path to the continental stage was far from straightforward.After losing his father, a government school teacher, in 2013, Akash suddenly found himself responsible for supporting his family. With no steady source of income, he worked as a daily-wage labourer, earning about Rs. 300 a day while continuing to train and pursue his sporting ambitions.“There was a period when I couldn’t even afford coaching expenses. I would work during the day and train in the evenings,” Akash recalled. “My mother, elder brother and younger brother depended on me, so I had to keep going.”The struggles lasted for a couple of years before he was recruited by the Sashastra Seema Bal through the sports quota in 2016. Today, he is not only one of India’s most experienced sepak takraw players but also the leader of a team aiming to return to the Asian Games podium.Akash’s rise mirrors the growth of the sport in Manipur, which continues to serve as the supply line for Indian sepak takraw. Manipur’s influence is evident in India’s Asian Games contingent, with five members of the men’s team and seven from the women’s squad hailing from the state.The state’s dominance was evident at the recent sub-junior nationals in Srinagar, where Manipur won five gold medals and a silver across six events.According to Manipur Sepak Takraw Association general secretary Ch. Geskant, Manipur’s proximity to traditional sepak takraw powerhouses such as Myanmar and Thailand played a key role in the game’s development.The growth has also been sustained by a strong club structure, with organisations such as Laipham Khunou Youth Development Association (LKYDA), Popular Union Club (PUC) and Youth Amateur Welfare Association (YAWA) nurturing generations of players.The state currently has more than 500 registered players, along with nearly 200 players in Under-12 category. The association is active across 13 districts and plans to expand grassroots competitions further.“We are particularly focused on the mini and sub-junior levels because that’s where future talent can be nurtured. There are nearly 200 players in the Under-12 age group and that is one area where we want to focus more attention,” Geskant said.Yet, sepak takraw’s footprint is gradually expanding beyond its northeastern stronghold. One example is Bihar’s Bobby Kumar, the only player from the state in India’s men’s squad. The 20-year-old from Patna discovered the sport at a local park near his home and progressed rapidly through the ranks despite initially knowing little about it.“I never imagined I would play at the Asian Games one day. I started because it looked interesting and gradually fell in love with the game,” he said.Bobby, who recently earned an appointment as a sub-inspector with Bihar Police, was also part of the Indian team that won gold at ISTAF Sepak Takraw World Cup final at Patliputra Sports Complex in Patna last year.India have continued their strong run this year, too, winning the Asian Sepak Takraw Championship title in Nagoya while also claiming a historic World Cup silver in Malaysia and a King’s Cup bronze in Thailand in the Quadrant event.Thanks to these performances, the squad, which has been training intensively in Sonipat for the past two years, is high on confidence ahead of the Asiad, and Akash believes a podium finish is certainly possible.“Our performances over the last two years have been very good. Earlier, we hoped to reach the later stages, but now we truly believe we can win medals,” said the captain.With Akash’s experience, Manipur’s thriving player pipeline and young talents such as Bobby emerging from new centres, India begin their journey in Nagoya with genuine belief that another Asian Games podium finish is within reach.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.