From Struggle to Sporting Success: Remote Bastar Football Talent Pipeline Shines at Khelo India Tribal Games

Raipur, April 2026 : In the remote Abujhmad region of Bastar in Chhattisgarh, a quiet sporting revolution is taking shape. The Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Ashram, established in 1986 in Narayanpur district, has emerged as a unique nursery of football talent, transforming lives in a region once known for isolation and conflict.

Located nearly 250 kilometres from the state capital Raipur, the ashram was founded with the aim of uplifting tribal communities. Today, its impact is clearly visible at the ongoing Khelo India Tribal Games, where more than a dozen players from the institution are representing Chhattisgarh in both men’s and women’s football teams. While the women’s team has already reached the final, the men’s team has secured a place in the semifinals.

According to Mohan Lal, Assistant General Secretary of the Chhattisgarh Football Association and a member of the All India Football Federation executive committee, nearly 12 to 13 players in each of the state’s football teams come from this academy.

For decades, the ashram has been working to bring education and opportunity to children from extremely remote tribal villages, many of which are deep inside forests with little or no access to formal schooling. The institution provides free education and also nurtures interests in music and sports, making athletics an integral part of its development model.

Children are introduced to various sports at a young age and receive structured training alongside their academic education. This approach enables them to pursue both studies and sporting careers simultaneously.

Every year, around 50 to 60 students from the institution get the opportunity to compete at national-level events, reflecting the steady stream of talent emerging from this residential campus.

The ashram has developed strong sports infrastructure to support its students. The campus includes three football grounds, one of which has an astro-turf facility, along with indoor arenas for badminton, table tennis, kho-kho, and mallakhamb.

Mohan Lal believes that sports have played a transformative role in the lives of many children from conflict-affected areas. Today, the ashram is home to over 2,700 children across different age groups, from Class 1 to 12. Along with education, they are encouraged to dream of becoming doctors, engineers, athletes, or academicians.

He described the institution as one of the finest residential schools in the country, highlighting its unique role in shaping lives through education and sports. Many former students are now working in top companies across India or pursuing higher education at prestigious institutions.

The academy has also gained national recognition. The Ramakrishna Mission Football Academy became the first football club from the state to participate in national-level competitions organised by the All India Football Federation, including the Under-17 Youth Cup and I-League 2, marking a significant milestone in its journey.