Noamundi, June 13: New Star, Purnia and Baruguttu, Tantanagar emerged as winners in the senior and junior categories respectively in the finals of the two months long Sekkor Premier League organized by Tata Steel�s Ore Mines & Quarries ( OMQ ) Division at Sports Complex, Noamundi here today in the presence of a large number of sports lovers.
The final match was played between New Star, Purnia and B.S Bara Sarju, Tantanagar in the senior category, while Barugutlu Tantanagar and Chota Tiger, Dirihasa, Manjhari Block played the final match in the junior category.
The closing ceremony was graced by Jharkhand governor Draupadi Murmu, who was the chief guest of the occasion.
Addressing the gathering, Murmu lauded the efforts of Tata Steel in the preservation and promotion of tribal sport of Jharkhand, Sekkor. She said, �I am happy to know that besides tribal sports, Tata Steel has taken several initiatives in the field of sustainable livelihood, education and girl child awareness with its core focus on ethnicity and promotion of tribal culture. These initiatives in this region will help improve the quality of life of people.�
The governor said the ancient tribal sports and cultural heritage need to be preserved at every cost.
Other dignitaries present on the occasion included Geeta Koda, MLA Jagganathpur, Menka Sardar, MLA Potka, Dr Shantanu Kumar Agrahari, Deputy Commissioner, West Singhbhum, Anish Gupta, Superintendent of Police, Chaibasa, Rajeev Singhal, Vice President ( Raw Materials ), Tata Steel, and Pankaj Satija, General Manager, (OMQ), Tata Steel.
In his address, Satija said, �Sekkor Premier League is a stepping stone targeted towards revival and enrichment of tribal sports. We, at Tata Steel, have been promoting sports as a way of life.�
Renowned Indian cricketer from Jharkhand, Ishank Jaggi, was present to cheer for budding Sekkor players and motivate them to take Sekkor to the next level.
Other guests of the event included Biren Bhuta, Chief, Corporate Social Responsibility, Tata Steel, Krishna Bodra, President Adivasi Ho Mahasabha, Mankis and Mundas, members from Panchayati Raj Institutions, representatives from Adivasi Ho Mahasabha, Ho Samaj Yuva Mahasabha, Ette Turtung Pitika Akhra, Dupub Dostur Sekkor Samiti, Adivasi Association, Noamund, local stakeholders and Tata Steel officials.
For the past four years, Tata Steel has organised several sporting events to revive the tribal sport, Sekkor. To prepare players for Sekkor a seven-day Sekkor Residential Training Programme for tribal children was conducted in three phases from April 17, 2017 to May 8, 2017 at Noamundi Sports Complex.
Sekkor training was imparted to 300 budding players. 2300 players from more than 120 villages participated this grand season. 32 teams from in and around Noamundi faced-off each other in 35 league matches. A total of 294 league matches were played among 143 teams from Kolhan region. This event is the first of its kind in Jharkhand in which so many players from Kolhan region participated.