Abu Dhabi Student Makes History at Kerala School Sports Meet
<h4><strong>Abu Dhabi’s Svanik Joshua Creates History at Kerala School Sports Meet</strong></h4><p>A 13-year-old sprinter from Abu Dhabi has made history in Indian school sports. <strong>Svanik Joshua</strong>, a Grade 8 student at <strong>Model Private School</strong>, became the <strong>first student from the Gulf region</strong> to win a medal at the <strong>67th Kerala School Sports Meet</strong>, one of India’s largest inter-school competitions.</p><h3><strong>A Silver Sprint for the Record Books</strong></h3><p>Representing the UAE’s ‘15th district’ team, which included Indian curriculum schools from the Gulf, Svanik participated in the <strong>sub-junior boys’ 100-metre race</strong> at the event held in <strong>Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala</strong>.<br>Clocking <strong>12.172 seconds</strong>, he bagged the <strong>silver medal</strong>, finishing just behind the winner from Kozhikode, who recorded 11.97 seconds.</p><p>Principal <strong>I.J. Nasari</strong> of Model Private School confirmed that Joshua’s win marks the <strong>first-ever medal by a Gulf-based student</strong> in the event’s long history.</p><p>“This is a proud moment for the UAE’s Indian school community,” the principal said, congratulating the young athlete.</p><h3><strong>A Dream Come True for the Young Sprinter</strong></h3><p>Born and raised in Abu Dhabi, Svanik’s journey to the podium was anything but easy.<br>“This was my first time competing at the Kerala School Sports Meet,” said Svanik, still glowing with excitement. “I trained for three months before the event. My start was good, but I lost a bit of pace in the final. My best timing is 11.67 seconds — if I had matched that, I could’ve won gold. Still, I’m proud of what I achieved.”</p><p>Earlier this year, he proved his growing talent by winning <strong>gold in the 100m</strong> at the <strong>UAE School Games</strong>, showing that his speed was not a one-time feat but a sign of potential national promise.</p><h3><strong>From Cricket to Track: The Making of a Champion</strong></h3><p>Interestingly, Svanik’s athletic career began almost by accident.<br>“I used to play cricket,” he shared. “But during my Grade 2 sports day, I won some running races, and my teachers encouraged me to take athletics seriously.”</p><p>After a break during the pandemic, he returned to full-time training in 2022.<br>Despite limited facilities at school, he makes the most of what he has.<br>“We don’t have a running track, so I practise on the football field during school days. On weekends, I train at <strong>Zayed Sports City</strong>. I also go to the gym five times a week and avoid sugary and oily food. Running is my passion now,” he said.</p><h3><strong>A Hero’s Welcome Back in Abu Dhabi</strong></h3><p>Following his historic silver win, Model Private School organised a <strong>special felicitation ceremony</strong> for Svanik and the 18 students who participated in the Kerala meet.<br>The event featured a <strong>march-past, cultural performances</strong>, and speeches celebrating the athletes’ achievements.</p><p>Principal <strong>I.J. Nasari</strong> and Vice Principal <strong>Dr Abdul Rasheed</strong> honoured the students with <strong>bouquets and mementos</strong>, applauding their discipline and teamwork.</p><p>“I’m grateful to my coaches — Chandran sir, Mahesh sir, Naseer sir, and Ali Akbar sir — and to my principal and teachers for supporting me even when I miss classes for training,” Svanik said during the ceremony.</p><h3><strong>Balancing Sports and Studies</strong></h3><p>Apart from sprinting, Svanik is also a talented <strong>cricketer</strong>. He’s currently training for the <strong>Under-15 UAE Cricket Camp</strong> organized by the <strong>Emirates Cricket Board</strong>.<br>“I enjoy cricket, but athletics is my main focus. Competing at national and international levels is my dream,” he said.</p><h3><strong>Family Support and Future Goals</strong></h3><p>Svanik’s parents — <strong>Manoj Kumar</strong> from Kerala and <strong>Lourdes</strong>, a Filipina — along with his brothers <strong>Surya Moises (15)</strong> and <strong>Sujan David (9)</strong>, have been his biggest supporters.<br>“My father loves sports and always pushes me to give my best,” said the young athlete.</p><p>With the <strong>Indian Nationals</strong> coming up later this month, Svanik is already back on the track, determined to shave off milliseconds from his time.<br>“I’m training hard to improve my speed. My goal is to represent my school — and one day, my country — at the highest level,” he said with quiet confidence.</p><h3><strong>A Rising Star from the Gulf</strong></h3><p>From schoolyard races to national-level competitions, Svanik Joshua’s journey is a story of perseverance, passion, and pride. His success not only puts him in the record books but also inspires hundreds of young athletes across the Gulf to dream bigger.</p><p>As his principal said, “This is just the beginning for Svanik. The future of Gulf-based student athletics looks brighter because of talents like him.”</p>