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Sixteen Pakistani Hindu Refugee Students of Agni Samaj Centre Win Gold Medals at National-Level Tournament
Agni Samaj has been training Pakistani Hindu refugee children in martial arts for free for more than a year
Jodhpur/Ujjain | October 2025: In a resounding triumph of resilience and hard work, 16 children from Pakistan’s Bhil Hindu refugee community living in Jodhpur have clinched Gold Medals at a national-level sports and karate tournament held in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh.
Organised from October 4-6 at the Nanakheda Stadium by the Youth Games Development Federation India (YGDFI), the tournament, named 5th National Federation Cup, saw participation from over 300 students across India.
Representing Agni Samaj Martial Arts Training Centre – a free initiative that trains nearly 70 refugee and underprivileged children in Jodhpur – 20 refugee children (10 boys and 10 girls) had been selected for the event.
Of these, an impressive 16 students secured Gold, and 4 others won Silver, establishing the Jodhpur-based team as one of the strongest contingents in the competition.
The Gold Medal Winners are namely Govinda, Kapil, Bhagwandas, Narayandas, Deesha, Preeta, Bharat, Alina, Pawan, Chandan, Prakash, Deepak, Sunil, Maira, Alisha and Hamesh.
This is the third national-level event where students from the Agni Samaj Centre have bagged top honours, showcasing consistent growth in their performance. Their previous wins in Jaipur, in January and June respectively, had prompted Soorsagar MLA Devendra Joshi to personally visit the students to congratulate them and Agni Samaj.
The Agni Samaj Centre started a year ago under the visionary leadership of Sanjeev Newar, an IIT-IIM alumnus and data scientist, with the vision to empower refugee children through martial training, confidence building and dharmic discipline. Many of these children, having grown up amidst religious persecution in Pakistan, had never imagined a future where they could even dream, let alone stand on a national podium with medals around their necks.
Training is provided daily by Bharat Pannu, a 4th Dan Black Belt.
“These children are making Bharat proud,” said Newar.
Sewa Nyaya Utthan Foundation stepped in to fully sponsor the children’s travel, accommodation and participation in the competition, ensuring that no financial hurdle came in the way of their aspirations.
See pictures and news reports below:
