Rajouri, Aug. 18 -- In a solid achievement, ninth-standard student Mohammad Yasir from Rajouri clinched a gold medal at the Sub-Junior National Boxing Championship in Noida. His triumph has placed Rajouri firmly on the boxing map of India, and his coach said it is the first time in nearly 20 years that Jammu and Kashmir struck gold at the sub-junior level.

The young boxer, who has risen from a humble background, overcame extraordinary odds to achieve this feat. Yasir lost his father at a young age, and his mother works as a domestic help. To support his education and training, Yasir would often cook for MBBS students and use the little money he earned to fund his boxing journey.

Despite his struggles, Yasir never lost focus.

"I used to...