With the number of migrant workers rising in Munnar’s plantations, Kanan Devan Hills Plantations (KDHP), one of the region’s largest plantation companies, is launching a hockey tournament to encourage sports enthusiasts among its workforce. The sport is hugely popular among the workers from Odisha, West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Assam and they have been organising matches across various estates. Noticing this, the company decided to organise the Ripple Tea Hockey Tournament to promote emerging talent, sources said.

“The initiative is aimed at promoting sportsmanship and nurturing talent among our workers. The tournament is not just for migrant workers; teams comprising local employees of other estates such as Pallivasal and Periyakanal are also participating,” an official said.

“Over the past few years, the sport has seen tremendous growth, with new players demonstrating exceptional talent. By organising an annual inter-estate tournament, the company intends to provide a structured platform to bring this talent into the limelight,” he said.

Final on May 16

This is the first time that a hockey tournament of this scale is being conducted in Munnar, officials said. The inaugural edition will begin on May 12 and the final will be held on May 16. The matches will be held at the Kanan Devan Sports Ground, which is currently undergoing modifications to meet competitive playing standards.

The KDHP already hosts an annual inter-estate football tournament, the Finlay Shield, which has been running for 77 years. Launched in 1941 by E.H. Francis, the British general manager of the Kanan Devan Hills Producers Company, it remains one of the oldest football tournaments in India.