Jamshedpur, March 4: In its bid to revive the traditional tribal sport Kati, Tata Steel on Saturday organised a match of selected teams from Odisha and Jharkhand at Jaipal Singh Ground, in Karandih, around 10km from the city.

Thirty two teams were selected in the senior category (above 15 years) from the tribal villages of Mayurbhanj district in Odisha and from Potka and Mosaboni block of East Singhbhum district in Jharkhand while sixteen teams played in the junior category.

"We have selected the teams on the basis of a league match held in the villages of Mayurbhanj district and Potka and Mosaboni blocks. The competition was held in February and the finals were played today. The motive is to revive interest among people about this sport, which is on the brink of extinction and is losing out to soccer and cricket," said Shiv Shanker, an official of Tribal Cultural Society, a wing of Tata Steel.

Pioneered by the Santhal and Bhumij tribal communities, Kati is traditionally played after the harvest season by teams comprising nine players. Each player has a kati or a semi-circular disc made of tamarind wood.

Kati is a game of quick reflexes and deft footwork. All katis lie on the ground and players try to aim a bamboo stick with their feet to hit the opponent's kati. Every successful hit gains points.

According to Urmila Ekka, secretary of the Tribal Cultural Society, the top three teams of both categories will be awarded with trophies, track suits and tribal musical instruments.

In the senior category, the team from Rairangpur in Odisha defeated the team from Tiring in Potka, East Singhbhum, to bag the first prize. In the junior category, a team from Dumaria in Mosaboni block, East Singhbhum, beat a team from Harina in Potka block.