Hockey India Pushes for Tribal Youth Inclusion in National Team
Advocating for Tribal Representation in Hockey
Raipur (Chhattisgarh) [India], March 25: Dilip Kumar Tirkey, the President of Hockey India, has emphasized the need for increased participation of tribal youth in hockey. He supports the establishment of a national tribal team aimed at developing talent and enhancing the sport's grassroots presence.
In a conversation with a news outlet, Tirkey underscored the significance of providing opportunities for tribal children, asserting that such efforts could be pivotal in cultivating future athletes.
"Creating a National tribal team would be a fantastic initiative to engage tribal youth, fostering their interest and passion for the sport. This could lead to a surge of new players in the coming years," he remarked.
Chhattisgarh is preparing to host the inaugural Khelo India Tribal Games (KITG) starting Wednesday. Esteemed Indian athletes, including hockey Olympians Dilip Tirkey and Salima Tete, along with top sprinter Animesh Kujur, have praised the Games as an excellent opportunity for tribal communities to pursue sports careers.
The Khelo India Tribal Games will see participation from thirty states and Union Territories, featuring nine different sports, as per an official announcement.
Competitions will award medals in disciplines such as archery, athletics, football, hockey, swimming, weightlifting, and wrestling, while traditional sports like mallakhamb and kabaddi will be showcased as demonstration events. Approximately 3,800 athletes are expected to compete, with the Games concluding on April 3.
Events will take place across three cities: Raipur, Jagdalpur, and Sarguja. Tirkey, who is also a former Olympian, expressed pride in this groundbreaking championship, which provides a vital platform for youth, particularly tribal athletes, to display their skills and advance in sports.
He noted that this initiative aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of transforming India into a sporting nation by motivating young people to engage in sports.
"It fills me with pride that this championship is being launched for the first time in our country. It presents a remarkable opportunity for all youth and tribal athletes to demonstrate their abilities and aspire to represent the nation. Prime Minister Modi envisions a sporting India, encouraging every young person to connect with sports and participate in various games," Tirkey stated to SAI Media.
Chhattisgarh, along with Odisha, Jharkhand, and Assam, will have a significant presence at the Games, with over 100 athletes from each state. The gender distribution among athletes will be nearly equal, adhering to the Olympic charter's principle of gender neutrality.
A total of 106 gold medals will be contested, with athletics offering the highest number at 34. Swimming (24), wrestling (18), weightlifting (16), and archery (10) will also feature gold medals in double digits. Raipur will host the team sports of hockey and football, while athletics will take place in Jagdalpur, and wrestling will be held in Sarguja.