Even today there are many villages in Simdega district of Jharkhand where there is no electricity but the passion of hockey is in the heart of the people living there. Not so long ago, gunshots were often heard. But with the advent of the new year a new and positive change also came.
In just two days, the officials of Simdega District Hockey Association and residents of Runghudera have made a hockey field by clearing the forest and bushes. Now preparations are on to organize the tournament here in the end of this month or in February.
Akash Manjhi, a resident of the village, has given his land for a hockey ground.
Hockey Simdega chief Manoj Konbegi and Akash Manjhi held a meeting with the people of the village. It was decided to prepare the children and youth of the village and surrounding areas for hockey.
Eventually, over the weekend – on Saturday and Sunday, the villagers gathered with a spade, shovel, ax and basket to clear the forest and bush and turn it into a field.
Till today the villagers of Runghudera had neither electricity nor pucca roads. There is also no mobile-phone connectivity or network.
People get off the paved road and walk on the rocky road for about 6-7 km and reach the village.
The population of this village with about 50 tribal families is about 250.
People depend on wells and ponds for drinking water. Elephants also create havoc in this village surrounded by forests.
In Simdega until a few years ago, when every village was under threat of militant outfits, armed squads of militants used to take shelter here.
The condition of the local school is also not satisfactory.
Amidst all the difficulties, on January 2, when the hockey field was ready in the village, the enthusiasm of the children and youth of the village was touching the sky.
Hockey Simdega President Manoj Konbegi said that children and youth would be trained for hockey and within two months a hockey tournament would be organized among the children of nearby villages.
Efforts will be made to prepare better players to give them a chance to play at the district level.
It is worth mentioning that Simdega district has given more than 50 national and international hockey players to the country so far.
Most of the players have come out of RC Upgraded Middle School, Karanaggudi located in Besan Panchayat, and Benedict Kujur, the former principal of the school, who served in this school for 13 years, has played an important role behind it.
Alka Dungdung of Besan Panchayat has been included in the Indian team for the Belgium tour. Alpha Kerketta, Sangeeta Kumari, Beauty Dangdung Australia, Deepika Soreng, Anjana Dungdung are some of the other names who have made it to the national team.
Playing in the fields and villages of Simdega, there is a long list of players showing their skills in hundreds of tournaments in the country and abroad.
Novel Toppo, a resident of Sevai Khuntoli, was the first hockey player from Simdega to find a place in the Indian national team. He played for the country in 1966-67.
After this Michael Kindo was included in the Indian men’s team that played the Olympics in 1972.
Indian team won bronze medal in this Olympics.
When the Indian team won the gold medal in the 1980 Olympics, Simdega’s Sylvanus Dungdung played a key role in it. Simdega’s daughter Sumrai Tete, Masira Surin and Kanti Ba were part of the Indian women’s team at the Commonwealth Games in 2000.
Sumrai Tete was also the captain of the Indian women’s team in 2006.
Simdega’s Asunta Lakra has also captained the Indian women’s team in 2011-12. The country won many tournaments under his leadership.
Simdega’s daughter Salima Tete was the captain of the Indian women’s team at the 2018 Youth Olympics.
Similarly, Sushma, Sangeeta and Beauty of Simdega have been included in the junior Indian women’s team.
Many players like Bimal Lakra, Virendra Lakra, Masih Das Ba, Justin Kerketta, Adeline Kerketta, Alma Gudiya, Ashrita Lakra, James Kerketta, Pushpa Topno emerged from Simdega, who have shown the magic of their hockey stick along with the national. International tournament.
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