Port Blair(Sri Vijay Puram): Football fever in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is more than just a sporting passion—it is part of the region’s proud legacy. With the Islands’ football team having lifted the prestigious Subroto Cup four times, the electrifying scenes at the recent Inter-School Football Championship Final at Bathu Basti School Ground once again underlined the depth of talent and enthusiasm among the Islands’ young footballers.
Thousands of students, players, teachers and football enthusiasts turned up to witness the thrilling final, transforming the sporting arena into a vibrant celebration of youth, teamwork and football.
The championship also provided a major platform for promoting the Government of India’s ‘Gems of India 2026’ Campaign, which is gaining momentum across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The Education Department actively encouraged students to participate in the national challenge by documenting and showcasing their talent, achievements and inspiring stories through the WAVES OTT platform.
Operated by Prasar Bharati, WAVES OTT seeks to bring India’s rich cultural heritage, tourism, local stories, sporting traditions and emerging talent from across the country to a wider national audience.
The event was attended by Ms. Neerja Gupta, Nodal Officer for the Gems of India Campaign for the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Arunachal Pradesh, WAVES OTT, along with Assistant Supervisor A.K. Gain, teachers, players and a large gathering of students. Young participants were encouraged to contribute stories celebrating the Islands’ distinctive sporting culture and emerging champions.
Adding further momentum to the initiative, Doordarshan, Sri Vijaya Puram, will soon launch a special Sports Challenge Programme to promote the Gems of India 2026 Campaign. The initiative will provide young athletes from the Islands a dedicated platform to showcase their sporting talent, inspiring journeys and achievements while encouraging greater participation in sports and digital storytelling through WAVES OTT.
The overwhelming response to the football championship once again demonstrated that the Andaman and Nicobar Islands possess a rich reservoir of sporting talent. Through initiatives such as Gems of India 2026, local sporting heroes now have an opportunity to take their stories beyond the Islands, find a wider national audience and inspire the next generation to chase their dreams—both on and off the field.
