As many as 554 participants — 422 boys and 132 girls from 11 districts — are participating in the two-day fifth State-level Tribal Sports Meet which began here on Wednesday. The Akhila Bharatiya Vanavasi Kalyana Sangha is hosting the sports meet.
Shaktipad Thakur, head of the Akhila Bharat Vanavasi Kalyana Sangha, who inaugurated the sports meet, said that the sangha has played an important role in keeping tribal sports alive by creating a platform for tribal people to take part in such events.
More than 1.5 lakh participants from various States across the country would participate in the events, including Archery, Kabbadi, Kho-Kho, Volleyball, Shot-put, Long Jump, High Jump, Running and Marathon, during the State-level sports meet. Nearly 3,000 participants would be selected for the national-level event, Mr. Thakur added.
International cyclist Krishna Naikodi and athlete Sahana Kumari were the star attractions at the inauguration.
Mr. Thakur thanked the Sports Authority of India and the Archery Association of India for extending support to the tribal sports meet.
Kalaburagi Zilla Panchayat president Nitin Guttedar and Chief Executive Officer of the zilla panchayat Aniruddh Shravan were present.
