Patna, May 10 -- At a time when the Kashmir valley has found itself in the news for heartbreaking reasons, four young boys from the region offered a different storyline, with an amalgam of courage, resilience, focus and gold.

At the Khelo India Youth Games 2025 Bihar, Jammu & Kashmir boys' volleyball team opened the State's account in the medal tally with a gold by defeating Uttar Pradesh 3-1 in a hard-fought final. The scoreline -- 35-33, 19-25, 25-17, 25-21 -- tells its own story of a gripping contest, but the real story lay in the hearts of the players who made it happen.

Wani Mahir (Srinagar), Sahil Shamim (Anantnag), Abid Gulzar (Ganderbal), and Nasir Ajaz (Baramulla), as well their team-mates carried more than just the hopes of th...