Centuries-old Indian-African community sees sports as way out of poverty and discrimination

India’s Siddi community has long faced discrimination in the country. Members of the group are descendants of African migrants who were brought to India as slaves, while others came as merchants, sailors and mercenaries. Today, they live mostly in the Indian states of Karnataka and Gujarat, as well as in the city of Hyderabad. Sports are now offering some of them the chance to escape exclusion and poverty. Some Siddi youngsters are training at state sports academies, with several setting their sights on bringing glory to India at the 2024 Olympic Games.