Chaibasa, June 10: The Ores, Mines and Quarries (OMQ) division of Tata Steel, in its bid to revive the tribal game �Sekkor�, is going to organize Sekkor Premier League (SPL) in the ongoing month of June. This was informed on Saturday by the Chief of corporate communication, Kulvin Suri.
As many as 300 budding players are participating in the SPL and a total of 2300 players from more than 120 villagers are part of this grand season. A total of 32 teams from in and around Noamundi challenged each other in 35 league matches. The final match will be played at Noamundi sports complex. Jharkhand governor Draupadi Murmu would be the chief guest on the occasion of closing ceremony and cricketing icons like Saurabh Tiwari and Ishank Jaggi would also grace the function.
The event is being organized by Tata steel in association with Adivasi Ho Mhasabha, Ho Samaj Yuva Mahasabha, Ette Turtung Pitika Akhira , Dupud Doste Sekkor Samity and Adivasi Association Noamundi.
Tata Steel has been honing the skills of 300 budding Sekkor players through a seven day residential training programme at Noamundi Sports Complex. The training started on 17th April last and continued till May.
Tata Steel OMQ division General Manager Pankaj Satija said, �At Tata Steel, we believe that sports plays a vital role in the holistic development of communities and it aims at creating opportunities for excellence in sports and contribute to national achievement in sports and encourage a culture of health and fitness among people in general.�
Satija further said that tribals of Jharkhand have long nurtured a culture of playing traditional games which gradually withered away with time though these games were integral part of the cultural identity of the tribes of Jharkhand and Tata steel�s Tribal Cultural society has been making consistent efforts to promote and revive traditional popular games like Kati, Sekkor, Chhur, Bahu chor and Ramdel.
Satija further said, �We have organized sekkor games. Sekkor means a game played by the members of Ho tribe of Jharkhand. Sekkor is made of Kusum wood and shaped like a big top with an oval plane cap. A string is wound closely to appointed base that enables it to be toppled over by the opposing team.�