Raipur: The 24th National Tribal Sports Competition, held in Raipur, the capital of Chhattisgarh, concluded on December 31 with great fanfare. During the closing ceremony, Santhal Pargana emerged as the champion in the football final, defeating Kerala 4-1 in a penalty shootout. Kerala secured the runner-up position, while Jharkhand claimed third place.
In archery, boys from Eastern Uttar Pradesh and girls from Karnataka dominated the competition. Nearly 600 tribal boys and girls participated in the football and archery events, with athletes from around 30 states across India, including the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, joining the competition. Additionally, a team of archers from Nepal also took part.
Chhattisgarh’s Forest Minister and President of the Reception Committee, Shri Kedar Kashyap, along with the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Shri Tankaram Verma, visited the Kota Stadium to encourage the athletes. They interacted with the players, boosting their morale and urging them to continue performing excellently.
Possibly the World’s Largest Tribal Athlete Event
Addressing the closing ceremony, Shri Atul Jog, National Organising Secretary of the All India Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, highlighted that this event has been held annually since 1991 and is the largest global competition exclusively for tribal athletes. He noted that during a previous competition in Bhopal, 316 tribal archers participated, setting a record in the Golden Book of World Records. Shri Jog emphasised that the event transcends medal winning, focusing instead on fostering a sense of national unity and collective spirit among the players. He encouraged the athletes to work hard, stay connected to sports, and practice continuously to bring pride to the nation on both national and international platforms.
Sports Have No Language, No Boundaries – Only Talent Matters
The closing ceremony also featured an address by H.K. Nagu, National Vice-President of Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram. He encouraged the players by stating that sports have no language or boundaries; talent is the only defining factor. Nagu further emphasised the role of sports in building physical health and preparing individuals for life’s challenges. He acknowledged the efforts of the Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram in nurturing tribal athletes’ talents and helping them gain national and international recognition. He wished the winners continued success in their sporting endeavours.
Football – 22 Matches, 122 Goals, 9 Matches Decided by Penalties
The tribal athletes showcased their talent in football at Kota Stadium and the University Sports Ground, where 22 matches took place. Throughout the competition, the players scored an impressive 122 goals, demonstrating their skill and dedication. Notably, nine of these matches ended in penalty shootouts, highlighting the event’s competitiveness. In the final, Santhal Pargana triumphed, claiming the championship trophy, while Kerala secured the runners-up position.
Santhal Pargana’s goalkeeper, Vinay Kundu, received the Best Goalkeeper Medal for saving four penalty shots during the final. Additionally, Vimal Marandi from Santhal Pargana was named the ‘Man of the Tournament’, while Kerala’s Abhinand was honoured as the ‘Man of the Match’ in the final.
This prestigious event not only celebrated the sporting talents of tribal athletes but also fostered unity, empowerment, and national pride among India’s tribal communities.
During the closing ceremony, several prominent leaders were present, including Shri Satyendra Singh, National President of All India Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram; Phool Singh Lepcha, All India Khel Kudd (Sports) In-charge; Yogesh Bapat, National General Secretary; Umesh Kachhap, Chhattisgarh State President; Ramnath Kashyap, Organising Secretary; and Secretary Anurag Jain,.
Other notable attendees included the Secretary of the reception Committee, Mr. Amar Bansal, Zonal Organising Secretary Praveen Dholke, Co- Zonal Organising Secretary Subhash Badole, Head of the Department of Physical Education at Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University, Professor Rajeev Chaudhary, President of the Vanvasi Vikas Committee, Raipur, Ravi Goyal, and Secretary Rajeev Sharma, along with Co-Head of khelkud , Pankaj Singh, Sangeeta Chaubey, Dr. Vijay Sandilya, Dr. Ashutosh Sandilya, Dr. Meena Murmu, Mr. Tishen Bhagat, and Gopal Viyani were also present.
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