Eight teams will feature in the UPAI-organised inter-state Ultimate Frisbee tournament, a self-refereed and non-contact flying disc sport.
Disc games like frisbee are hardly seen as a sport in India. It’s more like a fun game that we’ve played at least once in our lifetime — either on the school playground, in the park, or on the beach.
But how many are aware of the sport’s competitive side — and the fact that we have a national team, which has not only participated in multiple international championships of this sport — globally known as “Ultimate” — but has even got that podium finish on a few occasions.
For Ultimate fans — initially called Ultimate Frisbee — there is good news as the Ultimate Players Association of India (UPAI), the governing body of the sport in the country, is organising the second edition of the Inter-State Championship. This year, it gets a new name — the Bharat Trophy.
The inter-state frisbee championship is scheduled from 2 to 4 June at the Vijay Anand Cricket Ground in Secunderabad.
“It is very exciting to take the inter-state championship, the Bharat Trophy, to Hyderabad, one of the initial bidders. UPAI is committed to host the Bharat Trophy in new states every year and use that as an opportunity to set up or enhance grassroot programmes in these states,” UPAI President Pundari Kumar Vallabhaneni tells South First.
In an interview with South First, the UPAI office bearers speak about the Bharat Trophy, throw light on the functioning of the sport in India, the challenges it faces, and more.
Seven of the eight state teams — Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Telangana, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh — will be participating in the three-day season of the Bharat Trophy, while Kerala will be making its debut.
“The first edition of the Bharat Trophy was organised in Gujarat’s Surat where Tamil Nadu won against the home team. Madhya Pradesh participated last year, but this year, they had difficulty finding sponsors,” UPAI Chief Operating Officer (CEO) Mrinalini Siddhartha tells South First.
The inter-state championship has been named after Bharat Ashoka from Karnataka, affectionately known as “Tarle” in the frisbee community.
Considered as a passionate advocate for Ultimate Frisbee in India and a driving force behind the growth of the sport, Tarle passed away in 2022.
“He was instrumental in organising the first India Ultimate National Championships in 2017 and the first India Ultimate Open in 2018. Bharat Trophy is a fitting tribute to his legacy. He even wanted to start a Test series between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka,” says Mrinalini.
While the Bharat Trophy is a recent addition, the UPAI representatives say that Ultimate Frisbee in India has been played at the club level for over a decade now.
“Our prime competition is annual club nationals (like football), which we have been hosting for a long time now. The time is as per international standards — 100 minutes for 15 points. Initially, we started with regional and sectional tournaments with a game duration of 75 minutes,” Mrinalini explains, and adds that the Bharat Trophy is an expansion to the sport in India.
Meanwhile, the Bharat Trophy will be live telecast on UPAI’s official YouTube channel known as India Ultimate.
Ultimate Frisbee, a flying disc sport, is mix-gendered, self-refereed, and non-contact.
There are other events too in disc sports such as Freestyle and Beach Ultimate, Disc Golf, Guts, Double Disc Court.
With 118 member-countries, the International Olympic Committee (IOC)-recognised World Flying Disc Federation (WFDF) governs the day-to-day affairs of the disc sports globally.
While the sport is based on the concepts of American football, basketball, soccer, and modern-day rugby, it differs in certain aspects.
It originated in the US with the first approved match played in 1968. However, there are reports that it was played many years before using tins and lids of pans.
In the modern-day version of Ultimate Frisbee, there are men, women, and mix-gender teams.
Mrinalini believes that the inclusive nature and gender equity of the sport makes it like none other.
“In the world also we live in a mixed society. No matter what gender you are, the opportunity is based on how your perform. With this, we encourage more women to come and join. In a team of seven, women and men are in the ratio of 4:3 and vice-versa after every two points,” she explains.
Ultimate Frisbee is played on grass in a 7 v 7 format, while on turf and beach sides, a team comprises five players each. In all the formats, two teams move a flying disc up the field and score a point by catching it within one of the end zones.
The Ultimate fields are usually 100 m long, almost the size of a football ground, with 18-m “end zones” on each end. A team scores a point when they manage to reach the opposing end zone and catch the disc within it.
Then, the opposing team starts from the scored end and tries to reach the other end zone of the field. The players can only throw the disc to their teammates and cannot move while holding it, like in basketball.
In the meantime, the opposition can try to intercept the disc or make it drop to gain control of it, which is called a turnover. However, any contact while blocking or trying to intercept the disc is considered a foul.
The US, Australia, Japan, and Canada are considered as the powerhouses of Ultimate Frisbee as they have secured most of medals in the World Ultimate Championships.
The Indian team has participated in a few international tournaments, including World Club Ultimate Championships, since 2015 and is currently ranked 25th internationally, as per the UPAI.
“We have been been sending national teams meritoriously since 2015. The team was first formed in 2011. In 2017, India finished fifth at the World Ultimate Beach Championships in France,” says Mrinalini.
She adds that, in 2019, the Indian side won a bronze each in Asia Oceanic Beach Ultimate Championships in Japan and Asia Oceanic Ultimate and Guts Championships in China.
“We were geared up to send three national teams in 2020 for the Masters Division, World Championships, and World Junior Championships. But due to the Covid-19 pandemic related issues, we could not,” says Mrinalini.
However, the Association is set to send three national teams in September this year to the Asia Oceanic Championships scheduled in the Philippines.
“We will be sending team for mixed, open, and masters categories. We will also be sending our team to World Ultimate Championships in 2024 Gold Coast, Australia,” Mrinalini says.
She adds that the UPAI conducts trials for the national team before organising a camp.
“We run regional selections and then shortlist a pool to the national selections. We conduct trials specifically for the national team in the open age category. Over the years, there have been players as young as 15-year-olds going all the way up to 40,” Mrinalini says.
In the future, the UPAI plans to select players in the Indian team based on their performances in the Bharat Trophy.
To inculcate Ultimate Frisbee into the society, the UPAI has partnered with 22 not-for-profit organisations across India.
“Each of those NGOs have different objectives but what unifies them is that they use Ultimate Frisbee as tool to meet their objectives. Like the one in Chennai trains to build life skills to children from the fishing community. Some others focus on livelihood, community building,” Mrinalini explains.
According to a September 2021 Al Jazeera report, over 4,000 players pursue Ultimate Frisbee in 100 villages of the western-Assam district Chirang, which has historically experienced armed rebellion and instability.
“In Assam, we have partnered with NGOs, introducing frisbee in around 350 villages,” says UPAI President Pundari.
In 2023, the Meghalaya government, the UPAI, and Sauramandala Foundation collaborated to engage the youth in the community through Ultimate Frisbee, while creating a platform for fun and learning.
“In Meghalaya, we are identifying 400 children in around 22 villages to train. In the future, we hope to double the numbers. Hopefully, all these states will have state associations in the future,” Pundari adds.
As Ultimate Frisbee is a self-officiated sport, it brings in “Spirit of the Game” (SOTG), a unique aspect of this sport where teams assess each other using five metrics.
These metrics include awareness of the rules, fair play and truthful, respectful communication, positive playing attitude and self-control, and avoiding fouls and body contact.
During an alleged foul call by a player, the rest of the players freeze in place while the two concerned players discuss the incident. They can also request input from other players, who are expected to say what they saw, regardless of which team it benefits.
“To maintain dignity of the sport, spirit of the game is an important aspect. Also, it’s a non-contact sport where, at times, inevitable incidental contact is there but it is not tolerated. If there is no conclusion between the two concerned players after a foul call, the disc goes to the last uncontested completed pass and the game goes on,” Mrinalini explains the rules of SOTG.
Players are also asked to form spirit circles (team hurdles) on the field where they discuss the SOTGs.
The most “spirited teams” in a tournament are the ones who earn the most points from their opposing teams and wins the Spirit Awards. The Indian women’s team won this award in 2016 World Ultimate Championship held in London.
While there is no referee, there are game advisors in Ultimate Frisbee. “The game advisor (previously called game observers) only offers their perspective and do not reprimand the players. Their only aim is to get the issue resolved amicably and in a structured way,” Mrinalini points out.
She adds, “I have seen aggressive individuals taking up the sport but through conflict resolution, while self officiating, they have transformed.”
The UPAI also conducts open book tests for players regarding the rules and conduct of the sport after which its also accredits them.
The National Sports Federations (NSF), who have the recognition of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYA&S), enjoy several benefits , including monetary aid.
The UPAI, which has at present federation’s in eight states, is not a recognised sports body by the Sports Ministry.
“To get the Sports Ministry’s recognition, a federation needs to be registered in two-thirds of the total number of states. At present, Karnataka, Goa, Gujarat have registered bodies and Maharashtra and Delhi are in the process. Hopefully, by the next Bharat Trophy, they will also be registered,” Pundari says.
The UPAI promotes Ultimate Frisbee through social media and also live streams the matches. It also roped in American Ultimate Frisbee coach and former Pride of New York (PoNY) club player Michael Brenner to train future coaches.
“Its a niche sports, so fighting with several mainstream sports is tough. We are running coaching programmes so that the coaches get certified and start training children in school,” Mrinalini says.
The Association is also planning to host a corporate tournament in the near future. A broader term goal is to organise an IPL-like professional league for people to take up the sport as a career.
In a growing sports nation like India, Pundari now hopes that Ultimate Frisbee will one day capitalise and cement its place.