Inaugurates 67th National School Games
STATE TIMES NEWS
SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday said that Jammu and Kashmir has made a new beginning with sports and sports culture development plan with adequate infrastructure, introducing sports as integral part of the educational curriculum, access to experts and outstanding coaching and providing opportunities to talents across the UT.
J&K youth our most precious wealth: Sinha
SRINAGAR: Observing that youth of Jammu and Kashmir is our most precious wealth. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday said the opportunity to compete in different sports will enable them to bring new hope, right skills to excel in life, courage to achieve success in every field and become role models for children.
Participating in the closing ceremony of CRPF T20 Cricket Cup 2023 and felicitating the winner, runner-up and other outstanding players of the tournament, The Lt Governor called for united efforts to establish a more conducive environment and provide platforms to nurture the budding sporting talents of Jammu Kashmir in diverse sports disciplines. He congratulated the CRPF Srinagar Sector officials, and all the participating players and teams from Ganderbal, Budgam and Srinagar. CRPF has always lived upto its motto of ‘Service & Loyalty’ and proven its mettle since inception in 1949 with single vision of ‘Nation First’. Its effort to engage youth from Kashmir is creating new environment of peace, prosperity and building moral leadership among young generation, the Lt Governor said. The final was played between MLA Gymkhana Club Budgam and Kashmir Tigers Lal Chowk. Junaid Azim Mattu, Mayor, SMC; Aftab Malik, Chairman, DDC, Srinagar; Nazir Ahmad Khan, Chairman, DDC Budgam; Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar, Advisor to Lt Governor; Nalin Prabhat, ADG CRPF; senior officers of Civil administration, Police and CRPF, sports lovers and youth in large number were present.
“In the recently concluded Asian Para Games, promising archer Sheetal Devi from Kishtwar, J&K has created a new history by winning three medals”, the Lt Governor said while inaugurating the 67th National School Games in Football U19 and Volleyball U17 Boys at Bakshi Stadium on the occasion of UT Foundation Day. “It is our collective responsibility to identify talent like her and prepare new paths for their future”, the Lt Governor said.
15000 school Children from Kashmir Division and 2000 athletes from all over the Country are participating in this mega sporting event.
The Lt Governor conveyed his best wishes to participating sportspersons. He said the prestigious sporting event is a collaborative effort between the Department of Youth Services and Sports J&K and the School Games Federation of India (SGFI), symbolizing their dedication to grassroots sports.
With 28 states, 8 Union Territories, and several SGFI-recognized boards participating, this event truly represents the diversity and inclusivity of India’s sporting landscape, he said. “Today, the Tricolour is flying high in international sports arena. Eminent sportspersons are emerging from small villages and towns and they have achieved excellence in international sporting events with their spectacular performance,” the Lt Governor said. He said the country is witnessing the resurgence of sports and a robust new sports culture. Our recent successes at the Asian Games and Asian Para Games have kindled high hopes to bring further transformation to achieve new heights in Olympics with the remarkable performance of our athletes, he added. At the inaugural ceremony, the Lt Governor shared the efforts of the UT Administration, under the guidance of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to create a robust sports ecosystem and realize the true potential of Jammu Kashmir in the sector. The Lt Governor administered an oath to the participants to respect and abide by the rules of the sport and in the spirit of fair play. The gathering of sportspersons, youth and officers at Bakshi Stadium also took the ‘Rashtriya Ekta Diwas’ pledge on the occasion. Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar, Advisor to Lt Governor; Sanjeev Verma, Commissioner/Secretary GAD, Sarmad Hafeez, Secretary Youth Services and Sports, Nuzhat Gul, Secretary J&K Sports Council, officers bearers of SGFI, senior officers of Civil and Police Administration, team managers, coaches, prominent sports personalities and youth in large number were present.