From Manali to Italy: Co-ed team set to make waves

History has been created as India officially qualifies for the Fireball Extreme Challenge (FXC) World Cup for the first time, led not by big sports academies but by young athletes from the small mountain villages around Manali in Kullu district.

Every evening, after completing their schoolwork, these boys and girls train on the grounds of a modest government school under the guidance of former national-level player Vijay Thakur. With limited facilities but extraordinary discipline, they have pushed themselves to international standards and earned a place on the world stage.

Coach Vijay Thakur said from December 1 to 9, a 15-member Indian delegation will compete in Lignano Sabbiadoro, Italy, at the EFA Bella Italia Resort, the official venue of the FXC World Cup 2025. For many of the players, this will be their first time travelling abroad, boarding a flight or even holding a passport. Coming from hardworking families, many helping out in orchards, shops, or roadside dhabas, these young athletes see this journey as a chance to represent not just themselves but the hopes of their entire community.

“FXC, known as the world’s first mandatory co-ed sport, requires boys and girls to compete together in every match. Played in more than eight countries and supported by groups such as the World Bank’s Connect4Climate and Women7 of the G7 Summit, the sport has become a global symbol of equality and inclusion. Their remarkable dedication even drew the attention of international coaches from Italy and Mexico, who travelled to Manali in July for an advanced training camp,” he remarked.

Local authorities, including Kullu DC Torul S Raveesh, Sports Officer Kavita Thakur, and the Indian Embassy in Rome, have praised the team and extended their support. Across the Kullu-Manali valley, there is a sense of pride and celebration, with villagers saying it feels as if every family’s child is carrying the tricolour to Italy.

The team determined not just to participate but to return with the World Cup trophy. Their story is one of hope, equality and the power of dreams and it is ready to inspire the nation.