Tribal Girls Shine as AJSA India Champions League Transforms Rural Sports in Odisha

Bolangir: What began as a grassroots football tournament in the heart of western Odisha turned into a historic celebration of inclusion and aspiration, as tribal children—many playing their first-ever competitive match—lit up the field during the AJSA India Champions League 2025. Organised by AJSA India in partnership with the FIFA Foundation, the three-day event at Gandharla Playground in Bolangir district brought together passion, community pride, and the power of sport to transform lives.

Over the course of three days, 20 spirited teams from Bolangir, Kandhamal, and Kalahandi districts battled it out in what has emerged as the first regional football league of its kind in the region. The event drew an unprecedented crowd of over 5,500 spectators, who watched in awe as young athletes from some of Odisha’s most remote villages demonstrated skill, determination, and unity.

The final day of the tournament was an emotional crescendo. In the boys’ final, the Jhinkipada Rangers secured a hard-fought victory over the Bathrala Warriors in a game that showcased strategic finesse and teamwork. However, it was the girls’ final that stole the show. The Ganjiapada Queens delivered a stunning performance against the Kurlubhata Angels, winning not just the match but the hearts of the community. Their triumph marked a turning point for women’s participation in rural sports, challenging long-held norms and bringing newfound visibility to tribal girls on the sporting stage.

The tournament was more than just a series of matches—it was a movement rooted in empowerment. Girls, who had traditionally been excluded from organised sports, emerged as champions in every sense. Villagers, families, and youth cheered them on with pride, their presence breaking cultural barriers that had persisted for generations.

Supported under the Generation of Opportunity for Aspirational Learning (GOAL) project, the initiative is part of a broader strategy to use sports as a platform for social transformation. Over the past year, AJSA India has established 30 sports clubs in remote areas, developed community playgrounds where none existed before, and trained over 3,500 children with the support of both professional and community-based coaches. Football sessions have also been integrated with training in first aid, search and rescue, and psychosocial support, creating safe and holistic learning spaces for children.

Describing the event as a moment of profound social change, Manoranjan Behera, Executive Director of AJSA India, said the Champions League was never just about the sport. “This wasn’t just a tournament—it was a movement to reclaim space for tribal children, especially girls who have historically been sidelined from physical activities and public spaces. What we saw here was a revolution—a celebration of dignity, equality, and hope.”

He added that the girls who played in the tournament “didn’t just participate—they owned the field. Their presence and success speak volumes. It’s not just a win in football; it’s a victory for visibility, confidence, and a future full of possibility.”

For the KBK region—often described in terms of backwardness and deprivation—the tournament offered a refreshing and inspiring narrative. It told the story of what happens when rural talent is nurtured, when girls are given the space to lead, and when communities rally behind dreams that once seemed out of reach.

As the final whistle blew and cheers echoed through Gandharla, one thing became abundantly clear: the AJSA India Champions League was more than a sports event. It was a bold declaration that even in the most marginalised corners of the country, change is not only possible—it is already happening.