Picture Credit: Twitter
Prathmesh Fuge, representing Savitri Jyoti Bai Phule University of Pune, won two gold medals in the compound archery event at Khelo India University Games Rajasthan 2025. Overcoming financial hurdles, the 22-year-old archer defeated Mihir Nitin in the individual final, scoring perfect 10s with every arrow, and also won the team mixed compound match with Mahek Pathan.
“I didn’t think of winning, I came to give my best and leave the rest. I rely on my muscle memory for every 10 pointer I score and never worry about the opponent or the wind,” Prathmesh told SAI Media.
Born and brought up in a middle-class family in Pune, Prathmesh’s journey to stardom is a tale of mental fortitude as he knew he had to be financially independent to pursue an expensive sport like archery. “I practised harder each day so that I could be selected in SAI National Centre of Excellence (NCOE) in Sonepat, so that my parents wouldn't have to bear all my expenses,” Prathmesh said. “As a 22 year old, it’s my responsibility not to be a burden on my family.”
Prathmesh's father, Balchandra Fuge, who is a cable operator, faced financial struggles after the introduction of Wi-Fi and 5G networks.
“My father’s business crashed in the post-COVID era, and we were financially struggling. He used to borrow money from our relatives and his friends for my archery supplies,” Prathmesh recalled. “I knew I had to work hard to support my family, help them repay the debt, and also pursue my passion for archery.”
Prathmesh started his sporting career as a state-level long jump athlete but switched to archery after a severe knee fracture. “My school coach said I would be better in archery as it would put less pressure on my knees,” he said. He joined the compound archery team, which was less straining on his knees.
Defying financial struggles, Prathmesh remained resilient and focused on his goal. He won many titles, including a team gold in the Archery World Championship, Gwangju, and a team silver in the Dhaka Asian Championship earlier this year.
“I participated in the Khelo India Youth Games in the Delhi edition and Khelo India University Games in Lucknow but wasn’t able to score any medal,” he said. “This is my second time taking part in university games and first time bagging double gold, and all I can say is the level of competition is increasing every year in Khelo India, and I hope to participate in the next edition too.”
Prathmesh’s university coach, Prashant Ramdas Shinde, couldn’t be prouder of his student’s achievement. “Prathmesh has worked incredibly hard to get where he is today,” the coach said. “Despite the financial struggles, his parents never let him quit the game. His dedication and perseverance are something that made him win. He even used the financial aid that he gets from SAI for funding his travel as well as equipment expenses, which is a huge relief for his family,” he signed off.
