National Sports Day special: Top achievements in Indian sports over the past year

Yuwa girls finish third at Gasteiz Cup in Spain

The Yuwa Supergoats

One of the most heart-moving stories of the year came from the Yuwa girls, who finished third at the Gasteiz Cup in Spain.

The girls belonged to the NGO Yuwa, which rescued the girls from the clutches of illegal human trafficking and provided them with education and training in their beloved sport of football.

Their talent was impressive and they were invited to participate in two of the biggest Spanish tournaments – the Donosti Cup and the Gasteiz Cup. The Yuwa Supergoats team comprised entirely of tribal girls between the ages 10-14, finished third in the Gasteiz Cup.

The girls received more support in Spain than they ever did at home. When the girls went to the Panchayat office to collect their birth certificates, they were slapped and made to sweep the floors.

In Spain, the organizers took it upon themselves to take care of the girls’ expenses, while a company called Gamesa Wind Turbines Pvt Ltd decided to sponsor them the rest of the tour. The girls were also given a tour of the iconic Santiago Bernabeu stadium, home to legendary football club Real Madrid.