Sahil Kumar: The Haryanvi biker who learned Marathi through love

Hailing from Kurukshetra in Haryana, Sahil is a junior non-commissioned officer of the Indian Air Force and a multiple national level medal winner in cycling. Naturally, he speaks Hindi with a Haryanvi accent.

But sit in the player’s arena on PuneOn the FC road after finishing the prologue race on January 19, he surprises everyone by speaking fluent Marathi. One could even mistake him for a local Punekar.

“Ekdum bhari route hota” (The route was really good), said cyclist Sahil Kumar, a member of the Indian national team participating in the Pune Grand Tour.

Sahil says with a smile, “My wife Komal Deshmukh is from Pimpri-Chinchwad. She is also a cyclist. She plays for the railway team and is also a national medallist. She taught me Marathi.”

Narrating the couple’s story, Sahil said he met his wife at a cycling camp in Delhi in 2016. “We started talking, first we became friends and then we started dating. We got married a year ago. After I met her and she used to talk to her parents on phone, I really liked the Marathi language and felt that I should learn it too. I used to ask her the meaning of all the words she said. She explained them to me and also encouraged me. It took me 5-6 years to learn it. Now I can speak Marathi well.”

The couple lives in Patiala, but visits Pune regularly to meet Komal’s parents. “I came to Pune for the first time in 2017 and met his father. He had no problems with our relationship and neither did my parents,” says Sahil, who likes to eat local poha.

The language transaction between the husband and wife cycling duo was not one-sided either. “She (Komal) also learned Haryanvi. Whenever she comes to my house she talks to my mother and father in proper Haryanvi,” jokes Sahil enthusiastically.

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Sahil has been in the Indian team for more than eight years. Having previously participated in the Commonwealth Games, her personal goal is to reach the podium at the next Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games. He posted a final time of 8:52:70 in the prologue race on the first day of the Pune Grand Tour.

Sahil was introduced to cycling through his elder brother, who was also a cyclist. He began his journey in the sport in 2012 at the age of 14. At the 38th National Games (2025), he won gold (Scratch Race), silver (Road Race) and bronze (Omnium). He also represented India at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and the Asian Track Championships. Sahil was a key contributor to the Indian Air Force team’s national title at the 29th National Road Cycling Championships (2024).

His other laurels include Gold at Track Asia Cup 2017 (Team Sprint), Three Gold Medals at the 2021 National Championships (Road Race, Team Time Trial and Criterium), Gold at the 2025 National Games (Scratch Race) and Gold at the 2024 National Track Championships (Team Pursuit).

Soham Shah is a correspondent for The Indian Express, based in Pune. A journalism graduate with experience in fact-checking, he brings a meticulous, research-oriented approach to his current reporting. Professional Experience Role: Correspondent covering education and urban affairs in Pune. Specialization: Its main objective is education, but it also maintains a strong focus on civic issues, public health, human rights and state policy. Key Strength: Soham focuses on data-driven reporting on school and college education, government reporting, and public infrastructure. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Their late 2025 work highlights a transition from education-focused reporting to hard-hitting investigative and human rights stories: 1. Investigations and Governance “Express Impact: Mother’s name now a must for downloading birth certificate from PMC site” (December 20, 2025) – Reports on a significant policy change by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) following its reports previous statements on the inclusion of gender in administrative documents. “44-acre Mahar land controversy: In June, a Pune official sought land eviction at the firm behest of Pawar’s son” (November 9, 2025) – An investigative article on real estate irregularities involving high-profile political families. 2. Education and University Life Faculty crisis at SPPU affects research and administrative work: 62% of government approved posts are vacant, more than 75% in many departments (September 12, 2025) – A research paper on faculty vacancies at Savitribai Phule Pune University. “Maharashtra’s controversial third language policy: Why the National Curriculum Framework recommends a Class 6 third language” (July 2) – This in-depth article discusses the reasons behind why the state’s decision to introduce a Class 1 third language was controversial. “Decline in number of schools and teachers in Maharashtra but increase in student enrollment: Report” (January 2025): Analysis of discrepancies in state’s education data despite increase in the number of students. 3. Human Rights and Social Issues “Aanchal Mamidawar Was Brave After Her Family Killed Her Boyfriend” (December 17, 2025) – A deeply personal and hard-hitting article/opinion column on the “crime of love” and honor killings in modern India. “‘People don’t respect the disabled’: Meet the man who has become the face of racist attacks against Indians” (November 29, 2025) – Profile of a Pune resident with severe physical deformities who became the target of global online bullying, highlighting issues of disability and cyberbullying. Distinctive style Soham is known for his vision of civil liberties. His reporting frequently champions the rights of the marginalized, whether students fighting for university democracy, victims of regressive social practices, or residents fighting crumbling urban infrastructure (as seen in his contributions to “Breathless Pune”). He is adept at linking Pune’s hyperlocal issues to broader national conversations about law and freedom. X (Twitter): @SohamShah07 …Read more

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