A promising karateka from the state is threatening to shift to Jharkhand, as Bihar may not send any under-19 (U-19) team to School Games Federation of India tournaments in New Delhi next January.

Bihar was sending U-19 teams to the federation's events till last year, but financial crunch is forcing the state art, culture and youth affairs department to do away with the practice.

Ananya Anand, a karateka who has represented the state at the federation's U-17 tourney in Jabalpur and Indore, is dejected at the plan. "I have been running to the art, culture and youth affairs department, for a month now, with a plea not to abolish the practice, but no assurance is forthcoming," Ananya said.

Ananya and her father are worried. She is even planning to leave Bihar in that event. "If the state government doesn't decide soon on sending a team, I will be left with no option than participate from neighbouring Jharkhand."

"The government is working on the modalities to find a solution so that U-19 teams can participate in the federation tourneys along with U-14 and U-17 teams," art, culture and youth affairs minister Shiv Chandra Ram said.

Ananya's coach Pankaj Kambi said the girl has potential, having bagged medals at the national-level karate championship, including gold in the Independence Day Cup in 2014. She has also trained in Bangkok. "I am looking forward to her winning a medal at the federation event," he said.

Ananya (16), a Class XI student at St Joseph's Convent, Patna, has been a karateka ever since she was a Class III student. She later joined Patna-based Institute of Martial Arts at Ashok Rajpath under the guidance of Pankaj Kambli. "My daughter is 16 and entitled to participate in the U-17 event, but as she is studying in Class XI, she will have to play in the U-19 team," said her father Omkar Sharan. "As per federation rules, any player studying in Class XI is entitled to play in the U-19 category."

The federation provides holistic physical education and school sports activity to budding players. It promotes healthy competition among athletes and based on performance, budding players are elevated to national and other higher levels.

The state government had honoured Ananya with the Khel Ratna award in 2015 and 2016. That apart, she participated in the Thailand Open Karate Championship in Bangkok in 2016 and bagged the bronze medal. Before that, in January 2015, she had participated in the 4th Al Ahli Dubai, 2015, better known as Dubai Open Karate Championship, where her performance was widely appreciated.