The way the game is played helps the Siddi team in India to realize | India News

Ravikiran Siddi is like any other athlete. He wants to run fast.

The 19-year-old favorite at 100 meters and 10.8 seconds. India’s record is 10.26 seconds while Usain Bolt’s world record is 9.58 seconds.

His short-term goal this year is to open 10.5 seconds, Ravikiran told Al Jazeera. In the meantime, he hopes to win medals at international conferences.

“If I win, the name of the Siddis will shine,” he said, referring to the group he lives in in Africa.

The region, found in the Indian subcontinent, is home to a variety of East African ethnic groups, including the Bantu.

According to some sources, the Siddis (who think the diversity of the word Sayyidi, a prominent figure in some African sects) was brought as slave slaves and Arab traders in the eighth and eighth centuries, which were perpetuated by the Portuguese and the British. .

Others arrived as merchants, sailors, and soldiers.

Others took up positions, such as Malik Ambar, who became a military leader in Deccan India in the 16th century. Last year, Shantaram Siddi became the first local person to be elected to parliament in the Karnataka state government.

Siddis are often regarded as outsiders because of their curly hair and appearance even though they have lived in India for generations and conform to local customs.

They are known to face a wide range of racial prejudices. According to reports, the Siddis were called “black bears” and were told they were “foreigners” in India and should be within their borders.

Ravikiran said that although he did not receive any insult from anyone, he noticed that when he traveled to India to compete, people looked at him as a stranger, with their eyes fixed on his hair and skin.

An athlete in Siddi told Al Jazeera that there had been incidents of people touching the hair of other curious athletes out of curiosity.

Nitish Chiniwar, founder of the nonprofit Bridges of Sport (BoS), says the sport can address this issue.

“We strongly believe that the game can change the mindset of not only the Siddis, but also any team that is winning the field,” Chiniwar told Al Jazeera.

Established in 2016, the BoS has worked with children from ethnic backgrounds to help develop skills and change lives.

So far, the BoS has said it has introduced football and athletics in the lives of more than 2,000 children, including 250 to 300 Siddis, from countries such as Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha.

Inspired by Usain Bolt, Ravikiran jumped at the chance when the BoS coaches went to his hometown to try out for the exam, becoming one of the recruits in 2017.

Now, he teaches at the BoS campus in Karnataka, and blends in with his sports and online Bachelor of Arts degree classes.

Chiniwar came up with the idea of ​​a BoS when he turned to people who had not had the opportunity to move the love of the sport from their passion to work.

He also believes in the power of sport to bring about change when he sees African American athletes such as boxer Mohammed Ali and athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos use the platform to illuminate their area.

He started working with ethnic groups such as the Gonds, Baigas and Siddis who often live far away from ordinary groups in India and do not get the same opportunity.

“No matter where they come from, where they come from, they should have the same opportunities as everyone else,” Chiniwar said.

The BoS was established in Mundgod, a town north of Karnataka [Courtesy: Bridges of Sports]

The BoS was established in Mundgod, a town north of Karnataka. There was a playground, superintendents assisted and when interviewed, the people of Siddi district, about 40,000, expressed interest in having a sports association in the area.

Children between the ages of 14 and beyond and educators, including a nutritionist, biomechanist, and supervisory coach, live in a hostel, gym, school and dining hall.

Young people enroll in a home school that is affiliated with the BoS.

Once the group hears that the student is ready according to the instruction, ideas and skills are given a “running contract” before they go to the hostel.

The agreement states that the BoS will support the child until he or she is fired or resigned, Chiniwar explained.

Siddis usually account for about 50 to 60% of those BoS eaters.

The idea of ​​giving athletes life skills is important in his career. The organization helps to develop intellectual capacity, good habits and personal skills.

“I used to be very shy but now I feel more confident when I talk to people,” Ravikiran said.

In terms of sports, candidates are trained by local and international coaches in state and federal competitions, and are expected to qualify for international and international competitions.

“Originally the idea was to participate in children’s games, but now we aim to reach the platform at the 2028 Olympic Games in the 100m, 200m and 400m,” Chiniwar said.

This is not the first time a sports program with national teams has crossed paths in India.

In 1985-86, the government of India launched the Special Area Games (SAG) program to attract athletes from remote areas across the country.

The aim of the program, according to the Sports Authority of India (SAI), was to seek “natural skills in modern athletic competitions from inaccessible ethnic, rural and coastal areas” and to “care” scientifically to achieve excellence in sport “.

People from all over India, including the Siddis, were selected on charges ranging from shooting arrows to athletics and cycling.

Players spend their free time playing games such as chess and arrows [Courtesy: Bridges of Sports]

“It seems that the government feels like the bodies of Siddis working on the ground, which are very close to the world in particular, people from Africa are often sports enthusiasts,” said Beheroze Shroff, a lecturer at the University of California, Irvine who has been studying for many years. the Indian subcontinent of Siddi, told Al Jazeera.

“To some extent, this can be seen as the African mentality as athletes, which exists even in the United States. That might be one encouraging incentive. More importantly, India has to compete in international competitions and Siddis can compete in the tournament. ”

The players did well, sorting out international records and participating in international events.

Archer Limba Ram represented India at the Olympics between 1988 and 1996.

Juje Jackie Siddi was one of the second SAG-trained members, selected in the 1989 game program.

Things were going well until the program was abruptly shut down in 1993, said Juje, adding that the runners had received letters saying they had been fired for poor performance.

BVP Rao, an officer of the Indian Administrative Services, who was the director of the SAG scheme when it was established, called the abolition a “very useless election”.

He also said he had moved to another area after the program and did not know why he had made the decision.

Rao said there are attempts to start the program but no “all attempts have been made afterwards [1993]”.

Following the dismissal, Juje said the runners were left helpless. Some returned to their villages, some continued sports like judo and promoted other people, and still others, like Juje, struggled to find work.

The conductor and electrical scientist performs the biomechanical athlete’s analysis [Courtesy Bridges of Sports]

Athletes are able to get government jobs in India at a reasonable level of sport that offers fixed income, pensions and sometimes the opportunity to continue their education and play professionally.

This is how Juje got his first job with the Bengaluru city police and later with the government-run Employee Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) in Mumbai, where he works.

Other SAG players such as Kamala Siddi and Louis Vincent Siddi found work with local railways.

“Without the game, I wouldn’t have had this job or I could have taken care of my family, I would still be in my hometown,” Juje said. “Sports are not just about winning medals. It is essential for social change. ”

For Chiniwar, what happened with the SAG plot is information.

“Once the program stopped, it all came back to normal. We want to do what can be encouraged,” he said.

“If the BoS leaves Mundgod in 10 years, there should be enough information for the training to continue. This can only happen if you make a machine nearby.”

The plan given by less has to do with coaching and having assistants. Shweta Siddi, 19, is one of those plans.

Although she has teamed up with the BoS as a 400-meter runner, Shweta is currently studying food medicine such as the kitchen that lives in the hostel and is working hard to join the training team.

“I am happy because I am continuing my education, earning a living and learning how to work in a way that will help me grow,” said Shweta.

Shweta, as part of her sports nutrition course, prepares food as a kitchen manager [Courtesy: Bridges of Sports]

Ensuring that athletes complete their training has helped to achieve parental support.

“The way Shweta has strengthened himself in sports, education and physically, he can overcome all the challenges in the future,” said Shanti’s mother.

Meanwhile, Ravikiran Francis’ father is also looking forward to the future.

“When he does well, his life can be a success: honor, fame, work and a stable life. And he can help someone like him,” he said.

Treating the community one of Ravikiran’s goals.

“Our children set a good example for us. If I win, Siddis’ name will shine, ”he said.

Meanwhile, India’s gold medal in the 100 meters is still ahead of him.