Anthropometric Somatotype Profile of the Siddi Tribe: Exploring Athletic Potential in an Afro-Indian Population
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.34256/ijk2614Keywords:
Anthropometry, Somatotype, Siddi tribe, Afro-Indian population, Athletic potentialAbstract
Introduction: Anthropometric characteristics, such as body size, shape, proportionality, and somatotype, are important factors in athletic performance and play a vital role in identifying talent. Indigenous and tribal groups have unique genetic and physical traits, yet they are often underrepresented in sports science research. The Siddi tribe of India, with African ancestry, presents a unique opportunity to study anthropometric traits associated with athletic potential. The present study aimed to examine the anthropometric somatotype profile of Siddi males and to explore its implications for athletic potential by comparing it with published somatotype data from Indian elite athletes across selected sports disciplines. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 143 Siddi males aged 18–23 years from Karnataka, India. Anthropometric measurements were obtained following the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry (ISAK) protocol, and somatotype was determined using the Heath–Carter anthropometric method. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 20.0, and results were reported as mean, standard deviation, and range. Percentage differences and Cohen’s d were calculated for descriptive comparison with published elite Indian athlete data. Results: The mean somatotype of the Siddi males was 2.46±1.09 – 4.57±1.10 – 3.30±1.26, indicating a predominance of ectomorphic mesomorph. Comparative analysis showed trivial-to-small differences with athletes in athletics, hockey, boxing, and sprinting (d = 0.06–0.52), while moderate-to-large differences were observed with jumpers (d = 0.75–0.89) and football players (d up to 1.01). Somatotype attitudinal distance (SAD) values indicated the closest similarity with boxers (0.48), sprinters (0.55), and athletics participants (0.61), and greater divergence with football players (1.53). Conclusion: Siddi males exhibit an ectomorphic mesomorph somatotype and greater morphological similarity to sprinters and boxers than to football players. These findings suggest a potential advantage for speed and power-oriented sports and provide initial data to aid evidence-based talent identification in this Afro-Indian population.
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