KATRA: The two-day football tournament at the district level, the first one in this mountainous district, for boys U/14 & 17 years of age categories concluded here today at Delhi Public School (DPS), Katra.
In all, ten teams from government as well as the Private institutions participated in the tournament.
The competitions were organized under the patronage of Director General Youth Services and Sports J&K, Jahangir Mir and the supervision of Dr Swaran Singh Chib, District Youth Services and Sports Officer Reasi.
DPS Katra emerged Champions in the Under/17 Group and Government High School Nomain as Runners-Up with the score of 2-1 whereas in the Under/14 yrs Boys category, Amba Kids Home Panthal got the top spot by edging a very well fought victory over Government High School Nomain at the score of 3-2.
Chief Guest, Dr M.K Kumar, Additional Chief Executive Officer, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB), Katra stressed upon the role of sports for generating cohesive and amiable social order.
“SMVDSB is making all-out efforts for creating genuine sports infrastructure and facilities for the development of young sporting talent in the district in particular,” he said and further stated that extending collaboration and seeking cooperation from the Department of Youth Services and Sports will help the cause of sports.
Guest of Honour, Ashok Kumar, Director Sports SMVDSB, cited an example of an outstanding sportsperson Mridula Gupta of Jammu for having achieved the dual distinction of getting gold medal in Gymnastics at the National Level as well as achieving excellence in her academics by getting 100% Marks in her 10th Class, pointing at the viewpoint that sports sharpens the physical as well as mental abilities of the students and not just a wastage of time as opined earlier.
The tournament was played on knock-out basis and the refereeing was done by Vivian of DPS Katra and Ajay Kumar whereas Pawan Kumar and Ranjeet Kumar were the line referees.