Kolhapur’s Akshay Patil, a former farmer’s son, has transitioned from struggling to pay school fees to becoming a government employee and assistant coach of Maharashtra’s tug-of-war team at the Khelo India Beach Games 2026. His journey in the sport began during his school days, where excelling in tug-of-war trials not only brought him sporting pride but also led to his school waiving his annual tuition fee, easing his family’s financial burden.
Patil’s dedication and hard work in tug-of-war paid off in 2021 when he was directly recruited under the sports quota as a sorting assistant in the Postal Department. This job not only brought stability to his career but also enabled him to support his family, including arranging his sister’s marriage and investing in a small dairy business for his parents.
Despite his professional commitments, Patil continued to excel in tug-of-war, winning medals at senior national championships and crediting his growth to the support of former weightlifter turned tug-of-war athlete, Madhavi Patil. Madhavi, now a coach, believes in the revival of the sport and its potential for international success with proper government backing.
Akshay Patil’s journey exemplifies how his involvement in tug-of-war has not only brought personal success but has also positively impacted his family’s livelihood and future prospects.
