A view of the selection camp of indigenous sports in Udalguri.
A view of the selection camp of indigenous sports in Udalguri.

In a bid to preserve and promote the traditional games among the young generation, Udalguri also hosted an indigenous sports camp along with the rest of the State following the direction of the Director of Sports and Youth Welfare, Assam to make efforts to preserve traditional games.

The day-long selection camp organized by the Udalguri district Sports office witnessed various indigenous sports, popular in the Bodo society at the Udalguri Higher Secondary School Playground on Sunday.

A total of eighteen players in five disciplines, nine each from boys and girls were selected in the camp.

The selection camp was inaugurated by the Assistant Commissioner of Udalguri, Lakhyajyoti Duwariya.

The games and sports of the indigenous tribes included Khwmlainai (a traditional Bodo wrestling), Bagalorin Bawdi Nagirnai (traditional egg searching), Dongfwng Mwfainai (traditional tree felling), Batha (traditional Tang guti) and Khuntha Gakhwnai (climbing of oily pillar).

All the eighteen players would be sent to the State level indigenous sports competition.

An ardent sports activist N Daimari said such efforts of the Sports and Youth Welfare Department of the State government must be lauded as this will greatly help in protecting and popularizing the traditional games of the State which have been forgotten by the current generation.

Daimari also said the Department of Sports and Youth Welfare, Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) has also been giving importance towards protection and preservation of all indigenous games.

Shajid Khan is Northeast Now Correspondent in Udalguri. He can be reached at: [email protected]