Patna, May 11 -- The cheers were deafening, the stakes high and yet, in the eye of the storm, three young girls from Nagaland found their calm.

Inside the BSAP Indoor Hall, the Sepak Takraw girls' doubles final at the Khelo India Youth Games 2025 Bihar had all the makings of a one-sided show. Bihar had the crowd, the confidence and the opening game in the bag. But what it didn't have was the heart of Vikhosanu, Meyonu and Thujono.

Down but not out, the Naga team rallied. Point by point, game by game, it clawed back, turning the home fans raucous support to silence, its hope into disbelief. The second game was its. The third? The Naga team made it a veritable tug-of-war after trailing 4-11 at one stage.

It pulled level at 13-13 and it f...