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Hockey India Backs National Tribal Team to Boost Grassroots Talent

Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey has advocated for greater inclusion of tribal youth in hockey, suggesting the formation of a national tribal team to nurture future talent. His comments come as Chhattisgarh prepares to host the inaugural Khelo India Tribal Games, featuring nearly 3800 participants competing across nine sports. The event, supported by sports stars, is seen as a crucial platform for tribal athletes to showcase their skills and build careers. Tirkey emphasized that the initiative aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of making India a sporting nation by encouraging youth participation.

Key Points: Hockey India Advocates for National Tribal Hockey Team

  • Tribal youth inclusion in hockey
  • First Khelo India Tribal Games launched
  • 3800 participants from 30 states/UTs
  • Aligns with PM's sporting nation vision
3 min read

"Good initiative to give exposure": Hockey India President Dilip Kumar Tirkey

Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey supports forming a national tribal team to nurture talent, as Chhattisgarh hosts the first Khelo India Tribal Games.

"It will be a good initiative to give exposure to tribal children. - Dilip Tirkey"

Raipur, March 25

Hockey India President Dilip Kumar Tirkey has advocated for greater inclusion of tribal youth in hockey, backing the idea of forming a national tribal team to nurture talent and expand the sport's reach at the grassroots level.

Speaking to ANI, Tirkey highlighted the importance of providing exposure to tribal children, noting that such initiatives could play a key role in shaping future players.

"It will be a good initiative to give exposure to tribal children. It will be a good thing if they form a National tribal team so that the children get even more interested and passionate... Many more players will come up in the future," he said.

Chhattisgarh is all set to host the first edition of the Khelo India Tribal Games (KITG) from Wednesday. India's sports stars like hockey Olympians Dilip Tirkey, Salima Tete and top sprinter Animesh Kujur hailed the Games as a great platform to build a career in sports for the tribal communities.

Thirty states and Union Territories will be represented in the Khelo India Tribal Games that will feature nine sports in all, according to a release.

Medals will be awarded in archery, athletics, football, hockey, swimming, weightlifting and wrestling. Traditional sports like mallakhamb and kabaddi will be the demonstration sports. Close to 3800 participants will take part in the Games that will end on April 3.

The Games will be played in three cities - Raipur, Jagdalpur and Sarguja. Dilip Tirkey, Hockey India president and former Olympian, said the championship is a proud first for the country and offers a strong platform for youth, especially tribal players, to showcase their talent and progress in sports. He added that it aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of making India a sporting nation by encouraging all youngsters to take up sports.

"For me and for all of us, it is a matter of great pride that this championship is being started in the country for the first time. It is a very good opportunity for all the youth and tribal players to showcase their talent and move forward in sports, and to play for the country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision is to make India a sporting nation. He wants all youth to be connected with sports and to play one game or another," said Hockey India president and former Olympian Dilip Tirkey to SAI Media.

Host state Chhattisgarh, apart from Odisha, Jharkhand and Assam, will have the biggest representation in the Games with more than 100 athletes each. The distribution of male/female athletes will be almost 50:50.

This is in keeping with the Olympic charter of maintaining gender neutrality. A whopping 106 gold medals will be at stake.

The maximum gold medals will be in athletics - 34. Swimming (24), wrestling (18), weightlifting (16) and archery (10) will have gold medals at stake in double digits. Hockey and football will be the two team games, and both will be played in Raipur. Athletics will be held in Jagdalpur, while Sarguja will host wrestling.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
As someone who follows sports development, I appreciate the focus on inclusion. However, I hope the infrastructure and coaching support continues beyond the games. Talent identification is just the first step; sustained investment is key for these athletes to reach the international level.
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Priya S
Dilip Tirkey sir is the perfect person to champion this cause. Coming from a tribal background himself, he knows the challenges and the raw talent that exists. Including traditional sports like kabaddi and mallakhamb is a brilliant touch. More power to all the participants!
R
Rohit P
Finally! Our tribal youth get a national stage. They have the stamina and spirit. I've seen kids in villages play with such passion without any proper equipment. This initiative can change lives and bring glory to India. Best of luck to all 3800 players!
K
Karthik V
The 50:50 gender ratio is commendable. Empowering tribal girls through sports can have a huge social impact beyond the field. Hope to see many champions emerge from this platform. Let's support them all the way to the Olympics!
M
Michael C
Interesting concept. A national tribal team could create a unique identity and foster team spirit. But the ultimate goal should be full integration into the main national teams based purely on merit, ensuring no one is left out of the larger system.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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