The state art, culture and youth affairs department has finally decided to send the state karate team to the under-19 School Games Federation of India (SGFI) tournament.

The 62nd SGFI tournament will be held at the Chhatrasal Stadium in New Delhi from January 2 to 9.

Earlier, the state government had planned to abolish the practice of sending the under-19 karate team to participate in the SGFI. There was no mention of karate at the SGFI tournament in the state government's sports calendar. Financial crunch was hinted as a reason.

But now the decision has been reversed on the intervention of art, culture and youth affairs department minister Shiv Chandra Ram.

The state government has agreed to send a team, but because of procedural delay only a small team consisting of three players will be able to participate in the tournament.

"The government was sending teams to SGFI every year, but, karate was left out of the state government sports calendar," minister Shiv Chandra Ram said. "The department worked hard to include karate in the sports calendar in just two months and finally we are sending a team for participation."

The government decision has brought a smile on the face of budding players.

Ananya Anand, a karateka who had represented the state in the Under 17 SGFI tourney at Jabalpur and Indore, had threatened to shift to Jharkhand as Bihar was not sending any under-19 team to the SGFI tournament in New Delhi next month.

The Telegraph had, in its October 13 edition, highlighted the plight of Ananya, a promising karateka.

On Tuesday, Ananya was expectedly on cloud nine after the government decided to send its team to New Delhi in January.

"The government decision has come as a big ray of hope for budding players like me who were earlier dejected as the government had decided not to send its team," Ananya said. "Now that the government has planned to send its team, it has brought smiles on the faces of players."

The state government had honoured Ananya with the Khel Ratna award on two consecutive years - in 2015 and 2016 - for her performance in karate.

Apart from getting honoured from the state government, the girl has also won medals at international tourneys.

The girl has also participated in the Thailand Open Karate Championship held at Bangkok in 2016 where she won a bronze.

Prior to her participation at the Thailand Open Karate, she had in January 2015 participated in the 4th Al Ahli Dubai 2015, better known as Dubai Open Karate Championship.

Though she could win any medals there, her performance was widely appreciated.

Welcoming the government's decision, Ananya's father Omkar Sharan said: "The government decision has come at the right time. Many players will benefit from this decision."

SGFI provides holistic physical education and school sports activity to budding players.

The federation promotes healthy competition among athletes and based on SGFI performance, budding players are elevated to higher level, which includes the national level.