Magic of hockey prevailed amid gunshots, militancy in this Jharkhand district

There are still several villages in Simdega district of Jharkhand that have no electricity but the passion of hockey runs high in the heart of the people residing there Not very long ago the sound of gunshots were heard often But with the advent of the new year a new and positive change also came alongThe officials of the Simdega District Hockey Association and the residents of Runghudera have made a hockey ground by clearing the forest and bush in just two days Now preparations are underway to organise a tournament here at the end of this month or in FebruaryAkash Manjhi a resident of the village has given his land for the hockey groundHockey Simdega chief Manoj Konbegi and Akash Manjhi held a meeting with the people of the village It was decided that the children and youth of the village and nearby areas should be prepared for hockeyEventually in the weekend on Saturday and Sunday the villagers gathered with a spade shovel axe and basket and cleared the forest and bush and turned it into a fieldTill date the residents of Runghudera villagers neither had access to electricity nor paved roads There is no mobilephone connectivity or network eitherAfter getting off the paved road people reach the village after walking on a rockladen path for about 67 kmThe population of this village with around 50 tribal families is about 250For drinking water the people depend on wells and ponds Elephants also create havoc every now and then in this village surrounded by forestsIn Simdega until a few years ago when the threat of militant organisations was in every village the armed squads of militants used to take shelter hereThe condition of the local school is also not quite satisfactoryAmid all the difficulties when the hockey ground was ready in the village on January 2 the enthusiasm of the children and youth of the village was skyhighManoj Konbegi head of Hockey Simdega said that children and youth will be trained for hockey and within two months a hockey tournament will be organised among the children of nearby villagesEfforts will be made to produce better players to give them a chance to play at the district levelIt is pertinent to note that Simdega district has given more than 50 national and international hockey players to the country so farMost of the players have come out of RC Upgraded Middle School Karanagagudi located in Basen Panchayat and behind this Benedict Kujur the former principal of the school who served in this school for 13 years has played an important roleAlka Dungdung of Basen Panchayat has been included in the Indian team in the Belgium tour Alpha Kerketta Sangeeta Kumari Beauty Dungdung Australia Dipika Soreng Anjana Dungdung are among some of the other names who have made it to the national squadPlaying in the fields and villages of Simdega there is a long list of players who have shown their talent in hundreds of tournaments in the country and abroadNovel Toppo a resident of Sevai Khuntoli was the first hockey player from Simdega to get a place in the Indian National team He played for the country in 196667After this Michael Kindo was included in the Indian mens team that played the Olympics in 1972The Indian team won the bronze medal in this OlympicsWhen the Indian team won the gold in the 1980 Olympics Simdegas Sylvanus Dungdung played an important role in it Simdegas daughter Sumrai Tete Masira Surin and Kanti Ba were a part of the Indian womens team in the Commonwealth Games in 2000Sumrai Tete was also the captain of the Indian womens team in 2006Simdegas Asunta Lakra has also captained the Indian womens team in 201112 The country won many tournaments under her leadershipSimdegas daughter Salima Tete was the captain of the Indian womens team in the 2018 Youth OlympicsSimilarly Sushma Sangeeta and Beauty of Simdega have been included in the junior Indian womens teamMany players like Bimal Lakra Virendra Lakra Masih Das Ba Justin Kerketta Adeline Kerketta Alma Gudiya Ashrita Lakra James Kerketta Pushpa Topno came out from Simdega who have shown the magic of their hockey stick in the national as well as international tournaments