Inclusion in Khelo India Beach Games gives Kerala’s tug-of-war players hope for a better future

Kerala won both men’s and women’s titles in first Beach Games conducted in Diu in Jan 2024

Khel Today Bureau

Diu: The Kerala tug of war team hopes the Khelo India Beach Games will lift the status of the ancient Indian sport by several notches. The Kerala team consists largely of students from Calicut University and they have been champions at both the All India University Games and the national tug-of-war championships.
Kerala coach Irshad expressed optimism that the challenges they’ve faced so far may start to ease following this major event in Diu. While practicing with his team on Ghoghla Beach, Irshad told SAI Media, “We are extremely happy that tug-of-war has been included in the inaugural Khelo India Beach Games. Until now, our sport and our athletes haven’t received the recognition they deserve. But its inclusion in KIBG 2025 has given us new hope.”
In Kerala, Irshad explained, tug-of-war is typically played on three different types of surfaces: indoors on concrete floors, on grass, and on beach sand. The Kerala team is well-trained on all three, which is one reason they are considered a strong side in the sport.
“We play on all three types of surfaces. Though we prefer indoor play because it offers no extra support, we also play barefoot on grass and sand, which has helped us develop a strong grip on the ground. We’ve been consistently performing well indoors, and recently our girls won the national championship.
“In addition, this year we were champions in both the men’s and women’s categories at the All India University Games. Kerala also emerged as champions in both categories in the Beach Games held in Diu last year.” Irshad said.
The men’s and women’s categories in the Khelo India Beach Games feature eight teams each. Every team comprises eight players. In team formations, the tallest athletes are positioned at the front, while the strongest and most well-built athletes are placed at the back. The game has no time limit; a team must pull the opposing team by four meters to win.
In knockout rounds, this is done three times, and the team that wins two out of three contests wins the match. In league rounds, there are only two pulls, and if both teams win once, the match is drawn and each team receives one point.
Irshad also pointed out that among non-coastal states, Punjab pose a strong challenge and is one of the favourites to win at the Khelo India Beach Games here. “Punjab is a very strong team. One reason is that they train in muddy soil, which gives them an edge when they come

to places like this. Also, Punjabi players tend to be physically very strong. We expect a tough competition from them,” said Irshad.
Irshad is hopeful that the Khelo India Beach Games, modelled after other initiatives like the Khelo India Youth Games, University Games, Khelo India Para Games and Khelo India Winter Games, will give tug of war a new identity and help teams overcome financial struggles.
He added, “We are confident that this initiative by the Indian government will help solve many of our issues. We’ve been provided with good food and accommodation here, but we had to cover our travel expenses on our own, which was quite costly. We hope that after these Games, we won’t have to struggle financially anymore and we’ll be able to focus completely on our sport.”
For more on Khelo India Beach Games 205 : https://beach.kheloindia.gov.in/
For Khelo India Beach Games medal 2025 tally: https://beach.kheloindia.gov.in/medal-tally

ON KHELO INDIA BEACH GAMES

This is the first Beach Games conducted under the Khelo India banner. The Games are being held under the vertical of sports competition and talent development of Khelo India Scheme from May 19 to May 24, 2025 in Diu, UT of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu. This initiative aims to promote beach sports and to enhance the reach and popularity of the Beach Games. In this edition, there are six medal sports: Beach Soccer, Beach Volleyball, Beach Sepak Takraw, Beach Kabaddi, Pencak Silat and Open water swimming. Two (non-medal) demonstration sports: Mallakhamb and Tug of war have also been included in Diu.