Hyderabad, Aug. 11 -- The journey of V Naveen Kumar, a Kho Kho player from Telangana, stands as a powerful testament to how indigenous sports can transform lives both on and off the field.

Rising from a modest background, his parents worked as beedi workers. Kumar overcame hardships to secure a government job, represent India internationally, and recently earned a Doctorate in Physical Education from Osmania University, Hyderabad.

The 34-year-old discovered Kho Kho in Class 7 and never let financial struggles stop him. "It was never easy for me to continue playing Kho Kho. Sometimes, we did not have enough to fend for our family of five, but I continued to play, and it is because of Kho Kho that I have been able to carve my own destiny,...