Where Sport Changes Lives: Abujhmarh's RK Mission Ashram Fuels Football Dreams At KITG

Last Updated:April 01, 2026, 18:01 IST

From conflict-hit Abujhmarh, RK Mission ashram produces football talent for Khelo India Tribal Games, with over a dozen players representing Chhattisgarh on the national stage.

In a region long associated with isolation and conflict, sport is scripting a different story.

At the ongoing Khelo India Tribal Games 2026, a significant portion of Chhattisgarh’s football squads, both men’s and women’s, have emerged from one unlikely hub: the Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Ashram in Narayanpur.

A Pipeline from the Heart of Abujhmarh

Established in 1986, the ashram was founded with the goal of uplifting tribal communities in the remote Abujhmarh region, located nearly 250 kilometres from Raipur. Over the decades, it has evolved into a centre for education and, increasingly, sporting excellence.

Its impact is now visible on the national stage. More than a dozen players across both football teams representing Chhattisgarh at the Tribal Games have been trained at the ashram. The women’s team has reached the final, while the men’s side has progressed to the semifinals.

“There are about 12-13 players from the academy in each men and women’s football teams competing in the KITG 2026," said Mohan Lal, assistant general secretary of the Chhattisgarh Football Association and an executive committee member of the All India Football Federation.

Sport as a Pathway

Located in the Bastar region, an area historically affected by Naxalism, the ashram has long worked to provide education and opportunity to children from remote tribal villages, many with limited access to formal schooling.

Today, it houses over 2,700 students across classes 1 to 12, offering free education alongside structured exposure to sports and extracurricular activities.

Sport, in particular, has become central to its development model. Children are introduced to multiple disciplines early, with football emerging as a strong focus area. Each year, around 50 to 60 students go on to compete in national-level tournaments.

Building Infrastructure, Building Futures

The campus includes three football grounds — one with astro-turf — alongside indoor facilities for badminton, table tennis, kho-kho and mallakhamb.

Its football programme has also broken new ground. The Ramakrishna Mission Football Academy became the first club from the state to participate in national competitions such as the AIFF’s Under-17 Youth Cup and the I-League 2.

Mohan Lal believes the institution’s impact extends far beyond sport.

“In many ways, it is one of the best residential schools in the country," he said, noting that several alumni have gone on to join top companies or pursue higher education at leading institutions.

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