Players Score Dignity in India’s First Transgender Football League

By Diwash Gahatraj (delhi)
Friday, February 20, 2026 – Inter Press Service

Jamshedpur, India – Pyari Hessa, 26, balances long shifts as a loco traffic controller at a steel company in Jamshedpur with evening football practice on the same turf used by professional teams. A trans woman from the Ho tribal community, Hessa was born Pyare Lal in Bedamundui, a remote village 50 kilometers from Chaibasa, the headquarters town of the West Singhbhum district in Jharkhand. After years of fighting for the right to live authentically, she now captains and plays striker for Jamshedpur FT in India’s first football tournament dedicated to transgender women, the Transgender Football League.

A Groundbreaking League

Launched on December 7, 2025, under the Jamshedpur Super League (JSL) by Jamshedpur Football Club (FC), the tournament brings together approximately 70 transgender women, many from Santhal, Ho and other local tribal communities. The league features a fast-paced seven-a-side format played on the artificial turf of the JRD Tata Sports Complex.

The players come from diverse backgrounds – factory workers, daily wage laborers, stage performers, and e-rickshaw drivers – competing not only for goals but also for visibility, dignity, and a sense of belonging. The league celebrates their skill, passion, and teamwork, transcending societal barriers and promoting inclusion through sport.

A Commitment to Inclusivity

Kundan Chandra, head of Grassroots and Youth Football at Jamshedpur FC, explains the club’s motivation: “The introduction of the Transgender Football League marks a progressive and meaningful step in our commitment to making football inclusive, accessible, and empowering for every individual. As a club, we firmly believe that football must serve as a platform where talent is nurtured without discrimination.”

For players like Pyari Hessa, this belief is becoming a reality. “When I’m playing football, it gives me immense happiness and gives me recognition. The game gives me a chance to rise above my gender identity. It gives me a platform,” Hessa says.

Challenges and Triumphs

Hessa’s journey hasn’t been easy. A Bachelor of Arts graduate, she lost her father at a young age and now lives with her mother in Jamshedpur, far from her ancestral village. Before finding employment, she worked as a daily wage laborer. She now works in the logistics department of a leading steel manufacturer, a company with targeted hiring for under-represented groups.

Her tribal identity and transgender status create additional hardships. Traditional tribal communities in Jharkhand often do not accept transgender individuals, leading to exclusion and limited support.

“I started playing football at ten, just like any other boy in my village. We’d kick around plastic balls on the village ground, purely for fun,” Pyari recalls. “When I was in college, I met people from the trans community who played in charity matches around Chaibasa. That’s when I realized football wasn’t just a game for me—it gave me a reason to preserve going and grow.”

After winning a match on January 25, her team triumphed 4-1 against Chaibasa FC.

Football’s Deep Roots in Jharkhand

Football is deeply rooted in Jharkhand, especially among its tribal communities. Children play barefoot on open grounds from a young age, making it a daily part of life. While cricket is also popular, football thrives at the grassroots level, boosted by Jamshedpur FC in the Indian Super League.

Informal transgender exhibitions and charity matches have long been organized by village committees and community groups, often as one-off events to promote visibility and respect.

Puja Soy, one of the league’s highest scorers with seven goals from six matches, says football is finally bringing her community real recognition. The 23-year-vintage Jamshedpur FT standout, a professional stage dancer, now lives independently in Jamshedpur. She shares the difficulties she faces finding housing, stating, “No flat owners aim for to rent houses to people from our community.”

Legal Protections and Remaining Barriers

Jharkhand aligns its policies for transgender persons with India’s Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, allowing self-identification as the third gender and access to benefits like reservations in education and government jobs, a monthly pension of ₹1,000 (about USD 10), and access to healthcare and insurance schemes. The state has also established a Transgender Welfare Board.

However, community members report that the reality on the ground often differs from the legal provisions. Transgender women frequently face job discrimination and may resort to begging to survive.

Freedom on the Field

Back at the JRD Tata Sports Complex, Pyari prepares for practice. “I can’t come for practice every day given that of my shift work,” she says. “But whenever my shift ends, I make sure to come here. This is where I feel free.”

As Pyari starts dribbling, it’s clear that football represents more than just a game. With every touch, she balances her job, her identity as a trans woman, her tribal roots, and her dreams.