Centre Recognizes Tamil Nadu's Traditional Sport 'Silambam' Under Khelo India Programme

Silambam has been recognized under the promotion of inclusiveness through the sports initiative of the Khelo India Programme of the union ministry of youth affairs and sports.

Silambam (Representation Picture)

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Minister for Youth Welfare and Sport Development Siva V Meyyanathan on Saturday said that the central government has recognized Silambam, a traditional game of Tamil Nadu. 

Silambam is a weapon-based martial art originated in South India in the Indian subcontinent. 

According to a report in the Hindu, the minister has said that Silambam has been recognized under the promotion of inclusiveness through the sports initiative of the Khelo India Programme of the union ministry of youth affairs and sports. 

Quoting the minister, the report said that the recognition of Silambam, a martial art of the Tamils, by the central government is a matter of pride to the Tamil community. 

The martial art was recognized by the central government after the Tamil Nadu government had sought recognition based on the directions of the chief minister, the minister said according to the report. 

The minister, according to the report, said that the Tamil Nadu government had also approached the sports development authority of India to include Silamam in the list of tribal sports and requested them to take steps to develop the martial arts. 

Pointing out that the state government has been taking steps to make Silambam eligible for consideration under 3% sports quota, the report, according to the policy note of the youth welfare and sports development department, said that the government is also speeding up works to set up a silambam training centre at a cost of Rs 1.60 crore.