From Gandhi’s ‘Satyagraha’ to breeding ground for talented fencers, why Bihar’s Motihari is making news

The man at the centre of it all is coach Appu Kumar, whose great initiative is making Bihar standout in Indian fencing

Khel Today Bureau

Rajgir: Motihari, the headquarters of East Champaran district in Bihar, is synonymous with India’s freedom struggle. It’s here in Motihari that Mahatma Gandhi started the ‘Satyagraha’ movement against the British in 1917. Now the city is finding space in the state map for producing fencers.

Today, Motihari is in news for producing some of the nation’s best fencers, thanks to the efforts of Appu Kumar, secretary of the East Champaran Fencing Association. In a state which produces the largest number of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers through Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examinations, Appu Kumar’s story stands out for the courage and dedication he showed to pursue sports as a career.

Kumar, who operates, coaches, and manages the district fencing training center in Khel Bhawan, Motihari, has had a remarkable journey. “I come from a humble background,” said the 28-year-old Kumar in an interview with SAI Media.

“My father is a farmer and works on daily wages. As the eldest son, I was expected to be the breadwinner after completing my BCA. My family pressured me to prepare for competitive exams like IAS and pursue government jobs, which are considered noble and stable sources of income in our traditional settings.”

Despite the hurdles, Appu Kumar started working as a teacher at Cambridge International Academy. “I felt a connection with young kids, and my love for sports grew stronger each day,” he said.

Appu Kumar, a former state fencing championship participant, was appointed Joint Secretary of the East Champaran Fencing Association in 2019 at the age of 22. He was tasked with starting a fencing training centre in Motihari.

Recalling the initial struggles, Kumar said, “When we started the training center in 2019, we didn’t have an aluminum piste or enough fencing kits and advanced equipment for our nine fencers. We practiced on a cemented floor with tent mats and borrowed saber jackets from other fencers during state or national-level competitions.”

The situation improved in 2022 when the Municipal Corporation of Motihari provided 30 complete fencing kits. By 2023, the fencers had secured seven national-level medals, and in the next two years (2024-25), they won 11 medals. Recently, the Sports Authority of India (SAI) provided the piste and other essential equipment, which Kumar’s team is grateful for.

Regarding Bihar’s fencers’ participation in Khelo India Youth Games, Appu Kumar said, “Last year, only one of our fencers, Shivam, participated in Khelo India Youth Games in Tamil Nadu. However, this time, out of the total 24 fencers in the Bihar fencing team, 15 are from Champaran district, which is a significant number.”

Currently, around 30 fencers are being trained at the Champaran district training centre, and another 30 are being trained at the Khelo India Centre operated by SAI in Khel Bhawan, Motihari. Four of Kumar’s fencers have been selected in one of the 24 National Centre of Excellence (NCOEs) and are training there.

Ravi Kumar Yadav, who started training in Épée at the Champaran district training centre, was later selected by SAI to practice at NCOE Guwahati due to his achievements in several national and state-level championships.

Yadav says, “I was practicing kickboxing at Cambridge International Academy when Appu sir spotted me and asked me to train in fencing. I joined the Champaran district centre under his guidance to reach where I am. I’m training at a NCOE and I’m extremely happy to have achieved this.”

Keshar Raj, a 14-year-old foil fencer, told SAI Media, “I got intrigued by fencing at my school, Cambridge International Academy. I decided to take up this sport and later found my way to Appu sir’s academy, for which I’m grateful.

“We used to practice on an agricultural field earlier, but after that, Khel Bhawan was allotted to us. Now, I practice at NCOE Guwahati. I was selected after winning bronze in the 25th Sub-Junior National Fencing Championship. Later, I secured a gold medal in the 68th National School Games Fencing Championship.”

Appu Kumar concluded by saying, “It’s just a matter of time before a high-performance training centre or NCOE opens in Bihar, and our fencers will soar to new heights. Currently, we’re sustaining our operations with a nominal monthly fee of Rs 600 from our fencers, which covers our operational expenses. Beyond that, our focus is on cultivating grit and determination. We’re committed to win as many medals as we can both nationally and internationally.”