Diu, Jan 7 (NationPress) When Raja Das isn't honing his Pencak Silat abilities, the 33-year-old dedicates his time to assisting his father in distributing ice to local blood banks in Kolkata. For decades, his father has been a street vendor, and Raja has been supporting him since he was a child while pursuing his aspiration of making a name in the sport.

The athlete from West Bengal has consistently won medals at the national level, and recently, on Tuesday, he clinched one of the first two gold medals at the Khelo India Beach Games 2026 held at Ghoghla Beach, triumphing over the defending champion and local favorite, Prasanna Bendre.

A commerce graduate, Raja has always been captivated by martial arts, ultimately finding his niche in Pencak Silat, a comprehensive combat style that encompasses striking, grappling, throwing, and weapon usage.

“From a young age, I was drawn to martial arts, yet I never had a fondness for karate or taekwondo. My interests leaned more towards choreography, particularly weapon choreography, which led me to this discipline. After extensive research, I discovered that Pencak Silat was included in the 2018 Asian Games,” shared Raja, who started his training in 2017.

His early ambitions took him to Indonesia, where he participated in an advanced training camp prior to the 2018 Asian Games. However, he had to put his aspirations on hold. “At that time, I was just beginning and lacked international exposure. I didn’t qualify, but that experience highlighted the level I needed to achieve,” he reflected.

The tragedy struck in 2018 when he lost his younger brother in a train accident in Howrah, compelling him to take on more responsibilities to support his family's financial situation.

“We do what we must to aid our family. I assist my father in his endeavors, but the earnings are limited. My family wholeheartedly supports my decision, and that’s where my strength derives,” Raja stated, mentioning that he has also completed a course in physical therapy to help sustain his income during training periods.

Winning the gold medal at the Khelo India Beach Games 2026 in Diu marks another significant accomplishment in Raja’s varied career. Previously, he earned silver medals at the 2025 Khelo India Beach Games and the 22nd National Games in Goa. At 33, he has steadily evolved into one of India’s leading Artistic Pencak Silat competitors.

Raja Das has regularly excelled domestically, securing gold medals in 2023, 2024, and 2025. He has also come close to podium finishes internationally, placing fourth at the 2018 and 2019 Asian Championships, fifth at the 2018 World Beach Championships in Thailand, and fifth at the 2024 World Championships in Abu Dhabi.

For Raja, clinching the gold medal in Diu serves as excellent preparation for the upcoming Senior National Championships, which will qualify him for the 2027 National Games and the international season ahead.

“My goal now is to bring home medals for India on the international stage, and I am optimistic that with the ongoing support from the federation and the government, that dream will soon materialize,” he concluded.