Rahulkrishna, a Tug of War champion from Kerala, represented India at the 2024 World Championship, captained the Kerala state team, won medals at national level, and built his entire sporting career through newspaper delivery, daily wage work, and an unbreakable will to succeed.
Rahulkrishna: My Sports Journey, From a Dream to Representing India
My name is Rahulkrishna, and today I would like to share my journey with you. This is not just the story of a sports career. It is the story of an ordinary boy who faced many struggles, heard many doubts, but never gave up on his dream. He did not start with advantages or resources. He started with a fire inside him that no discouraging word could ever put out.
Where It All Began
The sports journey of Rahulkrishna started when he was in the seventh grade. Before that, the school where He studied did not have much focus on sports or extracurricular activities. When he participated in his first school sports competition, he won first place in two events.
But along with that success, Rahulkrishna also heard discouraging words.
People told him, there is no point in going further. Older and stronger athletes will compete there. You will not achieve anything.
Those words hurt him, but they also created a fire inside him. He wanted to prove that he had the ability to achieve something.
The Teacher Who Changed Everything
When Rahulkrishna joined PHSS Panthalloor School in the eighth grade, his life changed completely. There he met his Physical Education teacher, Mr. Sudheer, who became one of the most important people in the sports journey of Rahulkrishna.
One day he asked Rahulkrishna: do you have interest in sports?
he replied: Sir, I like sports, but I do not know much about it.
Then he told him: Come for practice. You have talent. With hard work, you can compete at the state level, national level, and one day even represent India.
At that time, he did not completely believe those words. His family was more focused on studies, and Rahulkrishna did not receive much support for sports. But his teacher’s belief and his friends’ encouragement gave Rahulkrishna the confidence to continue.
The First Training Camp
When He attended his first training camp, the practice was extremely difficult. After the first day, he thought: this is not for me. I should quit.
But his friends encouraged him. They said: do not stop. You can do it. Just keep trying.
Those words gave him the strength to continue.
In his first school sports competition in the Sub-Junior category, Rahulkrishna competed against many students in a school with more than two thousand students. He won first place in all three events he participated in.
That was a turning point in the life of Rahulkrishna.
Later, he became the Individual Champion at the Sub-District and District levels. He qualified for the State Athletics Championship and won the bronze medal in the 100-meter race.
That moment changed the mindset of Rahulkrishna completely.
He told himself: yes, I can do this. I can go further.
The Sport That Changed His Life
In his ninth grade, his teacher Mr. Sudheer encouraged him to try Tug of War along with athletics. Initially, Rahulkrishna joined Tug of War only to earn grace marks. He never imagined that it would completely change his life.
In his first Tug of War competition, the team of Rahulkrishna became District Champions. Then he qualified for the State Championship.
At first, he lacked confidence. He thought: maybe I cannot achieve anything in this sport.
But his teacher encouraged him: go and try. Without trying, you will never know your ability.
With that confidence, he represented Malappuram District for the first time at the State Tug of War Championship. His team won the second position, and he was selected for the Kerala State Team.
Being selected for Kerala was one of the proudest moments in the life of Rahulkrishna. He also got the opportunity to captain the Kerala team at the National Championship, where they won the bronze medal.
That achievement was not just a medal for him. It was proof that a person who was once told you cannot do it could achieve something great.
The Year That Tested Everything
The next year was difficult for Rahulkrishna. He was not selected for the Kerala team. It was a very disappointing moment because Rahulkrishna had been the captain of the team the previous year. He started questioning himself.
At the same time, Rahulkrishna was struggling in academics during his tenth grade. He failed in several subjects during his quarterly and half-yearly examinations. His family told him: stop sports and focus only on your studies.
he was mentally very down during that period.
But he did not give up.
He worked hard for his SSLC examination and achieved good marks. Through the sports quota, he got admission for Higher Secondary education in the same school.
In Plus One, he was selected again for the Kerala Tug of War Team. During national competitions, he saw the Indian team selection process and international-level competitions for the first time.
That day, he created a dream in his mind: one day, I will wear the India jersey and represent my country at the international level.
Injuries, COVID, and Carrying On
But the journey of Rahulkrishna was not easy. He faced many injuries. He had an accident. After the COVID-19 pandemic, the performance of Rahulkrishna was affected. There were many moments when Rahulkrishna felt physically and mentally exhausted.
But he never stopped because his dream was stronger than his struggles.
Financial difficulties were also a major challenge for Rahulkrishna. To support his sports career, he worked in different jobs. He delivered newspapers, delivered milk, sold papads, worked as a daily wage worker, and even cleaned houses and toilets.
With the money he earned his own sports shoes and training equipment. His family loved and supported him, but they were not always in a position to provide financial support. So he learned to fight for his dream on his own.
University, Medals, and a Coach Who Believed
Through the sports quota, Rahulkrishna joined college and represented his university in the All India University Championships. He competed for two years and won medals.
The biggest turning point in the international journey of Rahulkrishna was his coach Mr. Raneesh P. M. Without him, he truly believes he would not have reached the Indian team. He was not only the coach of Rahulkrishna but also his mentor and biggest supporter. He stood with him during difficult times, supported him emotionally and financially, and guided him throughout the journey.
Rahulkrishna and his coach worked extremely hard together. The dedication, discipline, and practice they put in helped Rahulkrishna reach the international level.
he is also thankful to his college friends Kuruvila and Rohan, who supported him during his difficult times. He would like to express his gratitude to his Degree class teacher Smitha Ma’am, the Head of the Physical Education Department Mr. Sandeep, and his school teachers Mr. Sudheer and Mr. Ajayan. Their guidance, prayers, and belief in him played an important role in his success.
The Dream That Became Reality
When He looks back at his journey, he realizes that he did not reach this level only because of his hard work. The prayers and blessings of his parents, the support of his friends, and the guidance of his teachers and coaches gave him the strength to continue. Whatever He has achieved today belongs to everyone who believed in him.
Finally, after years of dedication, sacrifice, failures, and hard work, the dream of Rahulkrishna became a reality. In 2024, he had the privilege of representing India at the Tug of War World Championship. Competing on the international stage itself was a dream come true for him. He secured 16th position in the Senior Men’s category and 18th position in the Senior Mixed 4+4 category. Wearing the India jersey and representing his country remains one of the proudest moments in the life of him.
The Journey Is Still Continuing
But the journey of he is still continuing. It has been more than ten years since He started this journey as a seventh-standard student, and now it is 2026. During these years, He has dedicated his life to sports and has applied for sports quota jobs many times, but he is still waiting for that opportunity.
The family’s financial condition is very difficult. The father of He is bedridden and undergoing dialysis treatment, and he has two younger sisters. Getting a stable job is not just the personal dream of Rahulkrishna, it is a responsibility towards his family. Even through all these challenges, He continues to train, work hard, and move forward with hope, believing that one day his dedication and perseverance will be rewarded.
The journey of Rahulkrishna has taught one important lesson that belongs to every young person who has ever been told they are not enough:
Your circumstances do not decide your future. Believe in yourself, work hard, stay disciplined, and never give up. Success may not come quickly, but if you keep moving forward with determination, your efforts will never go in vain.
That is the story of Rahulkrishna. And it is far from over.
