Players in action at the CRPF grounds and (below) Dilip Tirkey, the man behind the show. Pictures by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, Nov. 10: Sixteen-year-old Krishna Lakra from Salanga Bahal village is excited and nervous at the same time. The young hockey player’s team has made it to the last eight of the six-a-side rural hockey tournament, organised by Dilip Tirkey and Lazarus Barla.

The tournament is a part of the hockey fest organised by Dilip Tirkey Sports Research and Development Foundation to encourage the talent in youngsters belonging to the tribal belts of Sundergarh district and nearby parts of Chattisgarh. The last rounds of the tournament began in the city at the CRPF Grounds on Wednesday.

The innovative endeavour of the international hockey players Tirkey and Barla began from an inter-zonal village level tournament that started from October 28. Eight teams each from the eight zones belonging to Sundergarh district and Chattisgarh fought it out at the village level. The final eight teams have nearly 100 sportsmen hand-picked from all the 64 teams by Tirkey and Barla. “We analysed each match and saw the performance of the players who were never trained formally but have hold on various techniques that suits the international arena. Accordingly we picked up players and split them into eight teams representing the eight zones,” said Barla.

Tirkey added that there would be a selection of 25 players who will be groomed by his foundation to play at the national group C tournaments. “Belonging to this pocket of the state I know how passionate the young hockey players are. They are full of energy and play very well at the village level tournaments that are regular in this zone,” he said.

The participating players, aged between 16 and 20, are thrilled about the hockey fest. “We are delighted to have got a chance to be trained by the likes of Dilip Tirkey. Also, to see so many other players equally crazy about the game,” says Rajuraj Kujur, captain of Lulkidhi team. “Though we speak different languages we understand them since they are similar be it Hindi, Sadri or Kuduk,” he says.

Though states following hockey such as Punjab have regular six-a-side and seven-a-side stories, the concept is a first for the states of Orissa and Chattisgarh. The eight teams in that qualified for the final phase of the tournament include Lulkidhi, Tileikani, Kahupani, Salanga Bahal, Jampalli, Nuagaon, Saunamara and Kubapada. The league matches that began on November 10 will continue till November 12. Both semi-finals and final will be held on November 13 at the CRPF ground here.