Press Release
Press Release From Student Welfare Board
Information & Public Relations Department
Preliminary Meeting Held for Statewide Grassroots Football Initiative for Students.
Gangtok, 11 June 2026: A preliminary meeting on a proposed statewide grassroots football initiative for students was held today at the Education Department Conference Room, Gangtok, from 1:00 PM to 2:16 PM. The initiative aims to encourage, motivate, and create meaningful opportunities for government school students across Sikkim to participate in football through a structured, inclusive, outcome-oriented, and sustainable tournament model.
The meeting was attended by Mr. Rinzing Wangyal Chopel, Chairperson, Sports Development Board; Mr. Tshering Wangchuk Lepcha, Additional Political Secretary to the Hon’ble Chief Minister from Gangtok District; representatives of the Student Welfare Board — Mr. Sonam Chopel Sherpa, Chairperson, Education Department; Ms. Kunzang Choeki, Board Member; Dr. Savitri Mukhia, Board Member; and Mr. Naresh Chettri, Board Member; and representatives of the Khelum Foundation, recipient of the Best Grassroots Football Academy in India award.
During the meeting, participants highlighted the immense potential of football as a powerful tool for student development. It was noted that football not only promotes physical fitness, but also builds discipline, teamwork, confidence, leadership, resilience, and a deeper sense of engagement with school life. The proposed initiative also seeks to address larger social concerns by encouraging students to stay active, focused, and goal-driven, promoting the message of being “high on goals, not on drugs.”
It was proposed that the initiative be jointly developed by the Student Welfare Board, the Sports Development Board, and the Additional Political Secretary to the Hon’ble Chief Minister from Gangtok District, with the active involvement of all key stakeholders, including students, teachers, schools, district authorities, coaches, and technical partners.
A three-tier tournament structure was discussed as part of the proposed framework. The first level will be held at the constituency level, covering all 32 constituencies of Sikkim to ensure representation from every region of the state. Winning teams from the constituency level will then progress to the district level, followed by a state-level championship, where district winners will compete for the final title.
The tournament is being developed as a grassroots football-focused initiative for government school students in the Under-12 category. It will be open to both girls and boys, with the main intention of ensuring that young football talent is supported, scouted, recognized, and given a clear pathway to grow. The initiative also aims to strengthen Sikkim’s identity as a potential hotspot for sports and grassroots football development.
Members emphasized that the tournament will not be geared only towards winning, but towards building sportsmanship, discipline, teamwork, confidence, and healthy competition among students from a very young age. The broader vision is to create a football ecosystem where participation is encouraged, talent is identified, and students are inspired to pursue positive goals through sport.
The Khelum Foundation will play a key role in supporting the development of the tournament framework and will also involve 150 state coaches in the initiative. Their involvement is expected to strengthen grassroots coaching support, talent identification, and the overall quality of student participation across the state. Through the football network provided by the Khelum Foundation, efforts will also be made to bring scouts from Indian football teams and clubs, creating greater exposure and recognition for young players from Sikkim. This will help plan and build a sustainable pathway for young inspired students, ensuring that emerging talent is not only identified, but also guided, supported, and connected to future opportunities in football.
Detailed planning on eligibility criteria, age categories, scheduling, grounds, officiating, budget, safeguarding measures, coaching support, talent scouting, and long-term sustainability will be taken up in subsequent meetings.
As part of the next steps, the Student Welfare Board, Sports Development Board, and the office of the Additional Political Secretary to the Hon’ble Chief Minister from Gangtok District will coordinate further action. The Khelum Foundation will prepare a draft tournament framework covering government Junior High Schools, which will be circulated ahead of the next meeting scheduled for 25 June 2026.
The meeting concluded with appreciation and thanks to all participants for their valuable inputs and commitment towards building a vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable student football ecosystem in Sikkim.
Gangtok, 11 June 2026: A preliminary meeting on a proposed statewide grassroots football initiative for students was held today at the Education Department Conference Room, Gangtok, from 1:00 PM to 2:16 PM. The initiative aims to encourage, motivate, and create meaningful opportunities for government school students across Sikkim to participate in football through a structured, inclusive, outcome-oriented, and sustainable tournament model.
The meeting was attended by Mr. Rinzing Wangyal Chopel, Chairperson, Sports Development Board; Mr. Tshering Wangchuk Lepcha, Additional Political Secretary to the Hon’ble Chief Minister from Gangtok District; representatives of the Student Welfare Board — Mr. Sonam Chopel Sherpa, Chairperson, Education Department; Ms. Kunzang Choeki, Board Member; Dr. Savitri Mukhia, Board Member; and Mr. Naresh Chettri, Board Member; and representatives of the Khelum Foundation, recipient of the Best Grassroots Football Academy in India award.
During the meeting, participants highlighted the immense potential of football as a powerful tool for student development. It was noted that football not only promotes physical fitness, but also builds discipline, teamwork, confidence, leadership, resilience, and a deeper sense of engagement with school life. The proposed initiative also seeks to address larger social concerns by encouraging students to stay active, focused, and goal-driven, promoting the message of being “high on goals, not on drugs.”
It was proposed that the initiative be jointly developed by the Student Welfare Board, the Sports Development Board, and the Additional Political Secretary to the Hon’ble Chief Minister from Gangtok District, with the active involvement of all key stakeholders, including students, teachers, schools, district authorities, coaches, and technical partners.
A three-tier tournament structure was discussed as part of the proposed framework. The first level will be held at the constituency level, covering all 32 constituencies of Sikkim to ensure representation from every region of the state. Winning teams from the constituency level will then progress to the district level, followed by a state-level championship, where district winners will compete for the final title.
The tournament is being developed as a grassroots football-focused initiative for government school students in the Under-12 category. It will be open to both girls and boys, with the main intention of ensuring that young football talent is supported, scouted, recognized, and given a clear pathway to grow. The initiative also aims to strengthen Sikkim’s identity as a potential hotspot for sports and grassroots football development.
Members emphasized that the tournament will not be geared only towards winning, but towards building sportsmanship, discipline, teamwork, confidence, and healthy competition among students from a very young age. The broader vision is to create a football ecosystem where participation is encouraged, talent is identified, and students are inspired to pursue positive goals through sport.
The Khelum Foundation will play a key role in supporting the development of the tournament framework and will also involve 150 state coaches in the initiative. Their involvement is expected to strengthen grassroots coaching support, talent identification, and the overall quality of student participation across the state. Through the football network provided by the Khelum Foundation, efforts will also be made to bring scouts from Indian football teams and clubs, creating greater exposure and recognition for young players from Sikkim. This will help plan and build a sustainable pathway for young inspired students, ensuring that emerging talent is not only identified, but also guided, supported, and connected to future opportunities in football.
Detailed planning on eligibility criteria, age categories, scheduling, grounds, officiating, budget, safeguarding measures, coaching support, talent scouting, and long-term sustainability will be taken up in subsequent meetings.
As part of the next steps, the Student Welfare Board, Sports Development Board, and the office of the Additional Political Secretary to the Hon’ble Chief Minister from Gangtok District will coordinate further action. The Khelum Foundation will prepare a draft tournament framework covering government Junior High Schools, which will be circulated ahead of the next meeting scheduled for 25 June 2026.
The meeting concluded with appreciation and thanks to all participants for their valuable inputs and commitment towards building a vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable student football ecosystem in Sikkim.
