School kids or professional archers? These Dubai-based siblings are both
Rakshita, 15, a 10th grader, and Niranjana, 9, a fourth grader at GEMS New Millennium School, Al Khail, are collecting medals and shattering expectations. Rakshita recently clinched gold at the Emirates Archery League Final and the UAE School Games (U-15 Women), while Niranjana earned silver at the Dubai School Games and bronze at the UAE School Games (U-12 Women). Together, this sibling duo is proving that passion, precision, and perseverance run in the family.
Sister act
Despite their age gap and different training tracks, the Saravanan sisters are each other's biggest motivators. 'We don't usually train together, but when we do during the indoor season, it's always competitive and fun,' says Rakshita. 'Watching her keeps me on my toes,' Niranjana adds. 'She helps me believe in what's possible.'
Rakshita thrives on results — the thrill of a perfect shot landing exactly where she aimed. Niranjana, meanwhile, finds joy in the ritual: the draw, the focus, the release. 'She's in love with the process,' Rakshita smiles, 'and that discipline shows.'
While most kids are enjoying laid-back summer holidays, these sisters are gearing up for the archery season which begins in October. In Dubai, they train three times a week for four hours at D'Archers Club under Coach Rao and Coach Toby, the professionals who first introduced them to the sport. When in India, the pace quickens: six to seven hours daily at the Archery Learning Centre in Coimbatore with Coach Abishek and Coach Kayal.
The journey hasn't been a solo one. Their school community has played a major role in keeping the balance between academics and sport. 'Our principal, Fatima Martin, always reminds us that excellence comes from commitment,' says Rakshita. 'She, along with our supportive faculty like Teresa Thomas and Dr Ashok Choudhary, has made it possible for us to chase big goals while staying on track academically.'
Rakshita even delivered a TEDx Talk at school, 'The Success Formula: Subtract',where she spoke about cutting out distractions and self-doubt to focus on what matters.
Bigger Targets
Their path to success hasn't been without hiccups. Rakshita recalls a state-level competition in Tamil Nadu where her D-loop, the tiny but crucial string on her bow, snapped mid-match. What could have been a disaster turned into a blessing when her father's conversation with another parent led them to Coach Abishek, who not only fixed the bow but later became Rakshita's Indian teacher.
'That broken D-loop ended up creating a full-circle moment in my journey,' she laughs.
This season, Rakshita is stepping up to the Under-18 category, ready to face tougher competition, longer distances, and higher expectations. 'I'm focused on consistency,' she says. 'Every muscle, every shot matters.'
Niranjana, still in the Under-12 bracket, is finding her groove. 'Being one of the youngest is scary sometimes,' she admits, 'but I'm learning to turn my nerves into focus.'
They both draw inspiration from champions. Rakshita looks up to British archer Ella Gibson for her poise and to Aditi Swami for her breakout success at a young age. Niranjana admires Sheetal Devi's resilience and Jyothi Vennam's commanding presence.
For both girls, archery isn't just a sport — it's a life lesson.
'To any young girl picking up a bow for the first time, I'd say: there will be bad days. Keep going. It's always worth it,' says Rakshita.
Niranjana chimes in with a message that's simple but potent: 'Work hard. And never let go of your dreams.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Khaleej Times
11 minutes ago
- Khaleej Times
Too much too young? China's 12-year-old phenom Yu sparks wonder and concern
Beating a 12-year-old rival was once child's play for an elite swimmer but it has become an unlikely badge of honour when China's Yu Zidi is in the race. Only the very best in women's swimming were able to beat Yu at the world championships where the prodigy became the youngest medallist in the global meet's 52-year history. Yet even as the swimming world marvelled at Yu's talent, her age raised questions about the ethics of someone so young competing at the highest level. In a sport where the mental and physical toll can prove overwhelming for adults, Yu's success at the world championships was viewed dimly by some child protection advocates. "Twelve-years-old is incredibly young in swimming," author Linda Flanagan, a vocal opponent of children competing in elite sport, told Reuters. "A 12-year-old does not train like an 18 or 20-year-old because their bodies aren't equipped to handle the work involved. "And also emotionally, it's not in their best interest. "It flies in the face of what psychologists say about what's healthy for kids, which is not to put all your eggs in one basket, to spread your interests so you don't become this narrow person." Adolescents are hardly rare in swimming, particularly in women's competition where athletes tend to reach peak performance earlier than men. Dane Inge Sorensen was 12 when she won the 200 metres breaststroke bronze at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. She remains the youngest Games medallist in individual events. Sharron Davies swam for Britain at 11 and made her Olympic debut at the 1976 Montreal Games at 13. Far from being concerned about Yu's wellbeing, Davies said the Chinese wunderkind, who won a relay bronze and came fourth in three individual events on her world championships debut, would have found it a thrill. "It is a total misconception that that young girl would have been extremely nervous. It would have been the opposite," Davies told Reuters in an interview. "(When) I made that Olympic Games, I was just on cloud nine. "There was nothing for me to lose and everything to gain. And it would have been the same for her: she had nothing to lose and everything to gain." There was little sign of Yu being overawed as she recorded personal bests in the 200m and 400m individual medley (IM), and 200 butterfly. Her time of 4:33.76 in the 400 IM final would have taken the Paris Olympic bronze medal away from 23-year-old American Emma Weyant. Yu told Chinese media the Singapore meet was more intense than she had imagined but the atmosphere was great. "This relay bronze motivates me to keep working hard," Yu told Xinhua. "Right after the race, I talked to my family. I want to bring back the medal .... to share the joy with them." Yu's may be the last world swimming medal won by a 12-year-old pending a World Aquatics review. Although the global swimming body has a minimum age of 14 for Olympics and world championships, its by-laws allow younger swimmers with qualifying times to compete. Yu qualified at the national championships in May. World Aquatics Executive Director Brent Nowicki said the governing body would have to take a look at the age rule. "I didn't think I'd have this conversation, but now I think we have to go back and say, 'Is this appropriate?'" Nowicki told reporters in Singapore. "Do we need to do other things? Put other guard-rails up? Do we allow it under certain conditions? I don't know the answer." An International Olympic Committee consensus statement on elite youth athletes published last year noted adolescent athletes are more susceptible to "musculoskeletal injuries" while the intense physical and mental demands of sport can bring "psychosocial strain" and mental health challenges. China's state broadcaster CCTV reported that Yu nearly quit swimming last year when she was 11 because she felt pressure before the national championships. "I was just overwhelmed with emotion and didn't want to train anymore," Yu said in comments published by the broadcaster in May. But "patient encouragement" from her coach and family helped her persevere. The Chinese Swimming Association and China's General Administration of Sport did not respond to requests from Reuters to interview Yu or her coaches, or for comment on the national swim team's safeguarding protocols for child athletes. Australia head coach Rohan Taylor said he would be cautious about selecting a 12-year-old for open competition at a major global meet -- but would not rule it out. "I would go through a process to make sure everything was in place to support that athlete and that we felt we weren't putting any expectation or pressure," he told Reuters. "There's a lot of hurdles before we put (athletes) in that situation." Three years out from the Los Angeles Olympics, rivals and pundits see a big future for Yu. But predictions of super-stardom may not bear out, according to Michael Bergeron, co-author of the IOC's consensus statement on youth athletes and a sport science expert with the Women's Tennis Association. Citing IOC data, Bergeron said just over 30% of under-18 athletes who competed at Olympics returned as adults. "Maybe she is going to be a superstar down the road but the ones that usually excel at a young age are rarely the ones to excel as an older adolescent, never mind as an adult," he said.
Khaleej Times
4 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
UAE jiu-jitsu athletes win three medals at World Games in Chengdu
The UAE won three medals in the competitions on the second day of the World Games Chengdu 2025. Saeed Al Kubaisi claimed gold in the under-85kg division after a series of strong bouts against opponents from Portugal, South Korea, and Saudi Arabia. Mehdi Al Awlaki won silver in the under-77kg division, while Mohammed Al Suwaidi earned silver in the under-69kg division. Considered a global showpiece for sports yet to be included in the Olympic Games, the 12th edition of the World Games (August 7-17), features nearly 5,000 athletes from 118 countries competing across 34 sports, making it one of the most prominent international sporting events. Mohamed Salem Al Dhaheri, Vice Chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, said: 'Jiu-jitsu in the UAE has proven its excellence and its ability to succeed at every opportunity, supported by the sport's continued growth and the achievements of our national team on both continental and global stages. Our athletes have consistently made the nation proud in regional and international arenas, and today's result is even more significant given the presence of top-ranked competitors from around the world. This success is the result of the Federation's ongoing efforts and initiatives to prepare our athletes to perform at the highest level.' Al Kubaisi was delighted with his gold medal-winning performance. 'I entered the championship confident in my ability to win gold, as it's the natural result of the hard work and intensive training we've put in over recent months," Al Kubaisi said. "I want to thank the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation for the support they have given us, helping us reach this stage and make our mark at a global event of this scale.' Meanwhile, Al Awlaki was also pleased with his performance. 'The final was tough, but I never gave up and kept pushing until the last second because my goal was gold. I'm happy to take silver in such an important championship, and I'm confident there is more to come,' Al Awlaki said. On Tuesday, male athletes Mehdi Al Awlaki, Saeed Al Kubaisi, and Mohammed Al Suwaidi will compete in the open weight division and Asma Alhosani, Shamsa Al Amri, and Shamma Al Kalbani will take part in the women's category.
Zawya
8 hours ago
- Zawya
BeIN Media Group and SMC Group renew strategic partnership until 2027
Doha, Riyadh – beIN MEDIA GROUP ('beIN') has renewed its strategic partnership with SMC Group, which re-appoints the Riyadh based media solutions group as the exclusive advertising media sales representative for the global media group in 23 markets across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) until 2027. The new agreement covers all beIN's premium 20+ sports and entertainment channels, including its flagship beIN SPORTS channels. The renewal of the agreement was signed today during a signing ceremony held at beIN's MENA headquarters in Doha, attended by senior executives from both sides. This partnership is testament to the successful collaboration between beIN and SMC, who have been working together since 2022 to deliver cutting-edge advertising opportunities for local and international brands across the region. It also represents a practical model of SMC's vision for building long-term strategic relationships based on performance and results, further strengthening its position within the sports advertising sector. Commenting on the renewed partnership, Mohammad Al-Subaie, CEO of beIN MENA, said: 'We are pleased to extend our valued partnership with SMC Group, a collaboration that has become a cornerstone of our commercial success since the historic FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. Together, we have delivered innovative and engaging brand experiences that have reached millions across the region—providing brands with a powerful and differentiated platform for growth. This renewed agreement not only strengthens our shared commitment to excellence but also reinforces beIN's strategic vision to lead in premium sports and entertainment media, both across the MENA region and on the global stage. We look forward to building on this momentum and continuing to set new benchmarks in the industry.' From his end, Mohamed Al-Khereiji, Chairman of SMC Group, said: " We are pleased to renew our strategic partnership with beIN MEDIA GROUP, reinforcing SMC's position as the leading media and advertising powerhouse with the largest advertising inventory in the region. We greatly value the continued trust that beIN places in us, as this renewal marks the start of a new chapter focused on greater innovation and impact across the regional media and sports landscape. This agreement comes at a time when the region is witnessing rapid and positive growth driven by landmark investments and transformative projects. At SMC, we remain committed to our vision of delivering solutions powered by the latest digital technologies—boosting sales performance through tailored value propositions that meet the evolving needs of our clients and partners, including beIN, the exclusive holder of premier sports content in the Middle East. We are also dedicated to building a comprehensive ecosystem that seamlessly integrates premium content with cutting-edge technology, underpinned by our continued investment in artificial intelligence. Our goal is clear: to deliver measurable, sustainable results across both regional and international markets.' Renewing this partnership with beIN, SMC Group reinforces leadership in integrating media, sports, and technology within a unified vision that extends beyond traditional advertising. By leveraging advanced AI-powered advertising solutions and innovative tech platforms, SMC delivers impactful and targeted brand experiences. Beyond advertising, SMC plays a key role in driving investment and forging strategic partnerships across sports, media, and entertainment sectors locally and globally. This commitment supports Saudi Arabia's ambitions for sustainable economic growth fueled by innovation and technology, while contributing to the ongoing development of these industries regionally and globally. Notably, beIN SPORTS is the exclusive destination for the MENA region's most comprehensive and prestigious sports portfolio, featuring UEFA and FIFA competitions—including the FIFA World Cup—AFC tournaments, the Premier League, La Liga, Ligue 1, AFCON, Formula 1, and a wide array of other sports ranging from tennis and basketball to martial arts. This global sports content integrates seamlessly with SMC's extensive marketing expertise, enabling the delivery of targeted and effective advertising solutions. Beyond sports, beIN offers a rich entertainment lineup that includes award-winning films, premium series, children's programming, culinary shows, and much more. About beIN MEDIA GROUP beIN MEDIA GROUP is a leading independent global media group and one of the foremost sports & entertainment networks in the world. The group distributes and produces an unrivalled array of entertainment, live sport and major international events across five continents, 40 countries and in nine different languages spanning Europe, North America, Asia, Australasia and the Middle East & North Africa (MENA). beIN MEDIA GROUP's flagship sports network, beIN SPORTS, holds the single largest portfolio of sports rights of any global broadcaster; and through its iconic MIRAMAX film studio, beIN holds an extensive library of Hollywood blockbusters while having a growing presence in series and movies production and distribution, as well as in the digital space. beIN MEDIA GROUP acquired Digiturk, the leading pay-tv operator in Türkiye, in August 2016, and in 2022 launched its premium OTT service, TOD, across MENA and Türkiye. For more information on beIN MEDIA GROUP, please contact: mediaoffice@ About SMC Group: Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Riyadh, SMC Group is a leading advertising company specializing in marketing premium media assets across the region. The group represents several top-tier media platforms, including Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF), beIN Sports, Saudi Airlines, Webook, Invibes, Mawdoo3, and Webedia, providing strategic access to influential audiences through diverse media channels. The Group's strategy aligns with the major transformations taking place in the region in terms of investments and landmark projects. It is committed to playing an active role in supporting the objectives of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 by boosting investment in the sports, media, and entertainment sectors, and by building strategic partnerships that contribute to the development of these industries locally and internationally. This approach empowers the Kingdom to achieve sustainable leadership on both the regional and global stages. For more information about SMC Group, please contact: Sales@
