By the time he was in the fourth grade, Govarthanan had already made a name for himself.
Govarthanan, a young student from Poomalai, Ravuthar Street in Keezha Vasal, Thanjavur, is currently studying in the seventh grade at a private school in the city. Not only is he dedicated to his studies, but he also has a remarkable passion for sports, particularly martial arts. From a very young age, Govarthanan exhibited a strong interest in learning traditional self-defence arts such as Silambam and Whip-Wielding. His enthusiasm led him to take these martial arts seriously, undergoing rigorous training consistently over the years.
His dedication started paying off early in his life. By the time he was in the fourth grade, Govarthanan had already made a name for himself, winning gold and silver medals in district, state, and national-level competitions. Recently, he participated in the Traditional Silambam Championship, an international event held in Puducherry, where over 250 students competed. In this highly competitive environment, Govarthanan stood out by clinching the gold medal in the Sub-Junior Whip-Wielding category and a silver medal in Silambam. Reflecting on his success, Govarthanan credited his achievements to the intense and continuous training he has undergone. He expressed his desire to further improve his skills by mastering other self-defence techniques and excelling in various martial arts forms.
His trainer, Nirmala, who runs a Silambam academy in the Keezha Vasal area, spoke highly of him. She shared, “I come from a farming family, and I have been training 150 students in Silambam. While anyone can learn martial arts, only a few pursue it with the kind of passion that Govarthanan has. He joined my academy when he was in the third grade. Although he initially found it challenging, his interest in the art grew naturally over time. He never missed a class and absorbed everything like a sponge. Now, he is highly skilled in both Silambam and Whip-Wielding, and it is because of his dedication that he continues to win medals,” she added.
