Dantewada Transforms into a Sports Hub with Maidan Cup Initiative

Dantewada's New Identity as a Sports Center

Dantewada, located in Chhattisgarh, is moving away from its past as a Naxal-affected area and is establishing itself as a vibrant sports hub, thanks to a unique initiative backed by cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar's foundation.

As the influence of Naxalites diminishes, local authorities have launched the 'Maidan Cup' in partnership with the Mann Deshi Foundation and Sachin Tendulkar Foundation. This initiative aims to create 50 playgrounds across Dantewada to enhance the sports culture and nurture talent.

According to Dantewada collector Kunal Dudawat, community involvement has already led to the establishment of 20 playgrounds, with plans to meet the target by October.

Last year, the state government hosted the Bastar Olympics 2024 to showcase sports talent from the Bastar region, which includes Dantewada and six neighboring districts.

The goal was to connect athletes from Naxal-affected areas to the broader sports community, Dudawat explained.

To further this vision, the Maidan Cup was introduced, providing dedicated spaces for children and youth to develop their athletic skills in collaboration with the Sachin Tendulkar Foundation and Mann Deshi Foundation.

In the initial phase, 50 playgrounds will be constructed in various villages, with plans for expansion throughout the district in subsequent phases.

These vibrant playgrounds are being created in existing areas of government high schools, higher secondary schools, and porta-cabin schools, with significant community participation.

So far, 20 playgrounds have been completed, featuring facilities for 13 different sports, including running tracks, shot put, javelin throw, discus throw, long jump, and wall climbing.

While the district administration could have independently constructed these facilities, the aim was to engage the community and notable figures like Sachin Tendulkar to inspire local youth.

The playgrounds were built using locally sourced materials, with each facility costing no more than Rs 4 lakh. Local children contributed by painting the boundary walls.

With these new facilities, the administration hopes to cultivate the next generation of sports stars from the Bastar region. Dudawat noted that the youth from Bastar possess unique physical and genetic traits that can be advantageous in various sports. Many young individuals from the area join the police, paramilitary, and armed forces, and these playgrounds aim to help them excel in national and international sports.

"In the long term, we aspire for the next Sachin Tendulkar, Neeraj Chopra, and PT Usha to emerge from Bastar," he emphasized.

Panchayats that excel in developing playgrounds under this initiative will be rewarded with a skating park.

Additionally, the district administration is working on a residential sports city where elite athletes with medal potential will receive specialized training.

This sports city will feature facilities for cricket, football, hockey, swimming, and more.

Divya Sinha, leading the project from the Mann Deshi Foundation, remarked, "For the first time in India, there is a community movement to build playgrounds for children." She expressed a desire for Dantewada and Bastar to be recognized as a center for climbing and skateboarding instead of being associated with Naxalism.

The Mann Deshi Foundation is implementing the Maidan Cup initiative, funded by the Sachin Tendulkar Foundation.

"Imagine growing up in a place where children have never experienced the thrill of scoring a goal or the joy of swinging on a jungle gym. For years, this was the reality for many kids in Dantewada, where conflict and poverty overshadowed their childhood. But today, something remarkable is unfolding," she stated.

Sinha highlighted that around 70% of Indian schools lack adequate sports facilities, and over 500 million Indians have never engaged in sports.

In Dantewada, many children have lacked safe spaces to run, play, or simply enjoy their childhood. This initiative is not just about sports; research indicates that playgrounds can lower dropout rates, enhance mental health, and even deter youth from joining extremist groups.

Playgrounds have already been established in villages like Chhindnar, Kasoli, and Heetameta, positively impacting around 10,000 children.

As part of the Mann Deshi Foundation's travel coach program, sports teachers from 100 government schools in Dantewada have been trained. In Maharashtra, 1,700 sports teachers have received training. The Maidan Cup initiative marks a significant first for Dantewada.

More than 150 villagers, including teachers, farmers, laborers, and children, have come together to create these playgrounds in Dantewada.

Following Dantewada, the Maidan Cup initiative will expand to Jashpur and Raigarh districts, according to officials.