The Simdega district administration in Jharkhand plans to develop Barki Chhapar village not only by providing livelihood options but also in producing more sportspersons after its resident Salima Tete was selected last week as a member of the national women’s hockey team for the Tokyo Olympics next month.

Salima became the first woman from Simdega district and the second from Jharkhand to represent her country in Olympic hockey, the first being her teammate Nikki Pradhan.

Simdega deputy commissioner Sushant Gaurav visited Barki Chhapar on Monday to speak to the villagers and directed officials to focus on the overall development of Salima’s village.

Gaurav also visited Salima’s home where he met and felicitated her parents Subhani and Sulakshan Tete. Her youngest sister Mahima, who has also played junior national hockey, was present.

“Some government schemes are already being implemented in the village. We just wanted to give an impetus to the development process of both sports and livelihood,” Gaurav told The Telegraph when asked about his visit.

The administration would convert an existing ground in the village into a properly fenced area so that it helps in training budding players.

“Four more such grounds would be developed in different villages of the district,” said Hockey Simdega president Manoj Konbegi, who was also present during Gaurav’s visit.

Gaurav also went around the village and advised residents to opt for lift irrigation while also assuring them to provide a tractor for community use.

“Sports can develop only when there is an assurance of nutritional security of sportspersons,” Gaurav further said, adding that he encouraged the villagers to grow maduwa (finger millet) and groundnut.

“This district is known for successful lift irrigation schemes and the success can be repeated in Barki Chhapar also as there is a perennial source of water in the village that is required for the purpose,” he added.

“The villagers who are mainly farmers adopt traditional practices but shifting to mechanised processes would help them get more yield,” Gaurav said when asked about why he wanted to gift a tractor to the village.

“I’m hopeful more good players would emerge from the district who would also play at the international level in near future,” said Gaurav when pointed out that 19-year-old Salima was the only woman hockey player from the district who was selected for the Olympics.

“We are glad that the deputy commissioner visited the village of a player with a positive attitude and wanted to help it develop, besides also promoting sporting activities,” Konbegi said, adding that they were hopeful of more players emerging from the district.

“Simdega has produced many national and international players in the past. I’m hopeful more such players from the district would represent the country in near future,” he said when pointed out that no male player from Jharkhand has made it to Indian hockey teams for Olympics since Ajeet Lakra played in Barcelona in 1992.