When former Indian hockey player Ajitesh Roy founded the RK Roy Hockey Academy in Patna in 2018, his vision was straightforward: to develop players from Bihar capable of representing the country. Since Jharkhand was carved out of Bihar, only Ajitesh himself has played for the senior Indian men’s team. Though a handful of players from the state have reached national junior camps, none have advanced to the senior squad—until now.
Sawan Kumar, a goalkeeper from Patna who has trained at the academy since 2019, has been selected for the India U-18 team to compete in a four-match series against Australia. This series serves as preparation for the U-18 Asia Cup, set to take place in Kakamigahara, Japan, from May 29 to June 6. While he still has a long path ahead to fulfill Ajitesh’s dream, Sawan has made an impressive start and is embracing the opportunity.
“It’s a huge thrill,” Sawan said during a training camp in Bhopal. “Training under former India captain Sardar Singh has been incredible. He made us feel comfortable from the beginning, making training feel easy and positive. There’s so much to learn from him—his discipline, dedication, and consistency. His focus and approach on the field are very inspiring.”
A devoted fan of legendary goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, Sawan has spent years studying videos of Sreejesh’s performances, particularly his standout displays in the Tokyo and Paris Olympics, where India won consecutive bronze medals. “I learned a lot by watching and then trying things out in practice. He’s my idol,” Sawan said. “His performances in shoot-outs and penalty-corner defense, along with his confidence, are admirable.”
Though Sreejesh has been a source of inspiration, Sawan credits coach Sashi Rana for first asking him to take up goalkeeping. “I played many sports before hockey. Initially, I played as a forward and enjoyed it, but my coach made me a goalkeeper. Gradually, I started enjoying it and became completely addicted,” he added.
Beyond his coaches and academy, Sawan’s father Sanjay Kumar, an accountant, has been a constant pillar of support. “He always encouraged me to move ahead. Whenever I lost a match, he would simply say, ‘No problem—work harder next time,'” Sawan recalled. He also acknowledged Raveendran Sankaran, director general-cum-CEO of Bihar State Sports Authority (BSSA), for the sustained support for hockey in the state.
Ajitesh, however, remains cautious. “This is still the junior level, so it’s not the right time to get carried away,” said the former India player. “I keep telling Sawan, ‘You haven’t achieved anything yet—keep that in mind.’ People around him are excited about the India colors, but the true India team is the senior team. Junior is good, but the real satisfaction comes with senior colors. I’m waiting for that.”
Still, given the growing support from figures like Ajitesh and the state government, another talent from Bihar may soon follow in Sawan’s footsteps—if not him, then someone else.
