Sri Vijaya Puram, Aug. 28: The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are set to get a wider platform for showcasing their football talent under the Government of India’s Gems of India 2026 campaign, with the Education Department using the Inter-School Football Championship final to encourage young players and students to share their sporting stories through WAVES OTT.
The final at the Bathu Basti School Ground drew thousands of students, players, teachers and football enthusiasts, creating a large gathering around school-level football and highlighting the sport’s continuing popularity across the Islands.
The championship also provided an opportunity to promote the Gems of India 2026 campaign, which has gained momentum across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The Education Department promoted the campaign during the event and encouraged participants to enter the national challenge by showcasing their talent and achievements through WAVES OTT.
Football has a longstanding presence in the Islands, with the Andaman and Nicobar football team having won the Subroto Cup four times in its history. The championship final reflected the participation of children and young people in a sport that remains among the most popular in the territory.
WAVES OTT, the Government of India’s digital platform operated by Prasar Bharati, focuses on presenting India’s cultural heritage, tourism, local stories, sports and emerging sporting personalities from districts across the country.
Neerja Gupta, Nodal Officer for the Gems of India Campaign for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Arunachal Pradesh, WAVES OTT, attended the championship along with Assistant Supervisor A.K. Gain, teachers, players and students.
During the event, participants were encouraged to contribute stories to the Gems of India 2026 Challenge that highlight the Islands’ sporting culture and achievements. The campaign provides a digital avenue through which local sporting stories can be presented beyond the Islands.
The initiative will also receive a dedicated sports component in the territory. Doordarshan, Sri Vijaya Puram, is set to launch a special Sports Challenge Programme as part of the Gems of India 2026 campaign.
The proposed programme will focus on the sporting talent, journeys and achievements of young athletes from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It will also encourage participation in sports and digital storytelling through WAVES OTT.
The programme is intended to provide a dedicated space for sporting stories from the Islands within the wider Gems of India campaign. It will complement the outreach already being carried out through educational institutions and sporting events.
The response at the football championship reflected the scale of student and community participation around the sport. The campaign now seeks to connect that sporting interest with digital storytelling, giving young athletes an opportunity to document and share their achievements.
Through the Gems of India 2026 Challenge, students and young athletes from the Islands are being encouraged to present their sporting experiences and achievements on a national platform, while WAVES OTT and the proposed Doordarshan programme will provide avenues for those stories to reach wider audiences.
