The city of Jamshedpur hosted the launch of the first transgender football league in the country.
The tournament involves seven teams: Jamshedpur FT, Chaibasa FC, Chakradharpur FC, Jamshedpur Indranagar FC, Naomundi FC, Saraikela FC, and Kolhan Tiger FC. A total of 70 transgenders are competing in a five-a-side tournament, with matches held every Sunday for six months.
Starting the day were three competitive matches. Jamshedpur FT proved too much for Chaibasa FC, beating them 7-0. Their victory was followed closely by that of Kolhan Tiger FC over Chakradharpur FC, which won by 3-0. The other match, pitting Jamshedpur Indranagar FC against Naomundi FC, ended in a draw.
Apart from the results, it was an occasion that transgender participants had long waited to experience.For many players, it also has a lot of personal significance. For Puja Soy of Jamshedpur FT, who scored four goals in her debut, it was a moment of recognition and not one of mere biology. “Football is such a beautiful sport, and for the first time, I felt like I wasn’t seen as a female, but as a footballer,” she said.
Another participant, Aliya, reiterated a sense of belonging that she had lacked in other sporting endeavors. “The support we get from the club as well as the fans gives us a sense that we are really a part of the football family,” she stated. Jamshedpur FT captain Pyari Hessa labelled the league “a deeply inspirational moment for the community”. “We are delighted to be part of such a historical initiative,” she told Goal. “It gives us a platform that we have never had before, and hopefully it will inspire other states to create such facilities,”The initiative is a sign that there is recognition of the use of sport as a potent instrument for inclusion, irrespective of gender and social barriers.
Kundan Chandra, Head of Grassroots and Youth Football at Jamshedpur Football Club, emphasized the efforts made by his football club to make way for equality. “We strongly believe that football should be a platform which helps to develop talent without any consideration, and all players, irrespective of gender identity, should be able to get equal opportunities to play,” he said.
The league is a part of a wider movement in the campaign for the rights of the transgender community in the country. Another example of the movement to promote the rights of the transgender community via sport has emerged, and the Raipur city will host the ‘National Transgender Sports Meet 2025’ on 19th-20th December, with the theme ‘Samta ka Mahotsav’ that means ‘Festival of Equality’.
Collectively, all these efforts are a testament to the steadily expanding acceptance of inclusivity in the sports sector of India, allowing every sportsperson, irrespective of gender identity, the platform to perform.
