DHARAMSHALA: Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay this morning met the Tibetan Girls’ football team to inspire them ahead of the first-ever girls’ football tournament to be held in Dharamshala.

Sikyong interacted with the girls and spoke about sports as a way of enriching their lives through playful challenges, and as a tool to empower Tibetan women through leadership to effect changes in the community.

The football tournament is being organised by the Tibetan National Sports Association (TNSA) at the Upper Tibetan Children’s Village from 9 – 12 June.

Four teams including girls from the states of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh will compete with each other and the Tibetan team for the next four days. The final match of the tournament is scheduled on Sunday, 12 June.

Reacting to the news of the tournament, a Tibetan sports enthusiast remarked, “This football tournament is a great platform for the girls to showcase their talent and skills on the field. It is also a reflection of the growing trend of football among girls which was earlier a sole bastion of boys.”

The Tibetan National Sports Association (TNSA) is the largest Tibetan sporting association with the stated goal of developing, organising and promotion of sports in the exile Tibetan community.