‘I have only one life’: How 3 Idiots inspired Bobby Kumar's Asian Games journey

Kolkata: When Bihar’s Bobby Kumar watched the Bollywood blockbuster 3 Idiots, one message stayed with him: follow your passion.Growing up in a state where academics often take precedence over sport, Bobby found himself caught between expectations and his love for playing games. Inspired by the film’s message of pursuing what truly makes one happy, he chose a different path.Today, that decision has earned him an Asian Games bronze medal in sepak takraw as part of the Indian men’s quadrant team that reached the semifinals before losing to hosts Japan in Nagoya.“I have only one life. I didn’t want to spend it thinking only about studies,” Bobby recalled from Nagoya. “The message of 3 Idiots stayed with me. It made me feel that I should follow my heart and do what I truly enjoy.”Before discovering sepak takraw, Bobby played cricket in Patna. Like many families in Bihar, his parents, Manju Devi and Dharmendar Upadhyay, initially wanted him to focus on education and build a secure future. He tried, but sport proved impossible to ignore.“Whenever I saw other children playing, I wanted to play too. Gradually, I started enjoying it more and more and decided that I wanted to pursue sport seriously,” he said.It wasn’t cricket that eventually became his calling. Inspired by his elder brother Sunny, Bobby took up sepak takraw in 2014-15 and began training under coach Pankaj Kumar and Karunesh Kumar at a nearby park in Kankarbagh.“I could see his potential from the very beginning. He was disciplined, hardworking and eager to learn. That’s why I always believed he could achieve something special,” said Pankaj, who has been coaching since 2002.Bobby’s rise was steady and he completely committed himself to the sport in 2019 when he joined the Sports Authority of India (SAI) training centre in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh.The road to the Asian Games, however, was far from smooth. Bobby was in contention for the previous edition but missed out after changes to the squad. Rather than letting the setback define him, he turned it into motivation.“I made the 2026 Asian Games my target. I wanted to make sure I was in the main squad and not just among the reserves,” he said. “I was so focused on that goal that I even included ‘2026’ in my passwords as a daily reminder.”That focus was tested by personal challenges. Yet, with support from teammates, particularly Akash Yumnam, Bobby managed to remain fully focused on the competition.India battled through a difficult group featuring powerhouses Myanmar and Vietnam before eventually securing bronze. For Bobby’s father, the medal was the reward for years of dedication.“I couldn’t be prouder of Bobby. He has always been passionate about sports. Even when he was studying at Kendriya Vidyalaya, he used to win medals in skipping events. Today, people recognise me because of what he has achieved. Everything he has earned has come through his hard work and commitment,” said Dharmendar, who also has a daughter named Isha Kumari.As for Pankaj, the achievement is equally satisfying.“Seeing him win an Asian Games medal is a matter of immense pride. As a coach, you always hope your students reach the biggest stage, and Bobby has done that,” he said.And if the coach’s assessment is accurate, the Asian Games bronze may only be the start. “Bihar is now among the strongest states in the country in this sport. We have several players competing at the national level, and Bobby’s medal will inspire many more youngsters to take it up,” Pankaj added.Stay updated with the latest Asian Games 2026 news, check the Asian Games medal tally and complete Asian Games schedule.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.