JAMMU: Provincial President National Conference Devender Singh Rana on Sunday exhorted youth to sharpen their sports talent alongside pursuing academics and strive for excellence in both.
Addressing a gathering of cricketers comprising 43 teams of Nagrota here on Sunday, Rana said that talent can’t be suppressed and it reemerges with renewed vigour once identified and sharpened.
The Provincial President asserted that every initiative will be taken to provide right forum to the young cricketers of Nagrota constituency to portray their talent at the local, state and the national levels.
“Whatsoever is required will be done to have the best of talent at right place with right opportunities to flourish”, he said and referred to the established and acknowledged cricketers like Virat Kohli and Virendra Sehwag who picked up the game in narrow lanes and by-lanes and made their presence felt in the cricket world.
“Same is the case of Mary Kom who came from a modest background but left such an imprint that her name is reverberating across the world”, he added.
“If they could make it, why can’t you”, he told the enthusiastic sports persons with a hope that another shinning cricketer after Parvez Rasool to emerge from Jammu, more specifically Nagrota.
Rana said that he has been observing the passion for sports among Nagrota youth for quite long, which is why he decided to promote various games in an organised manner.
In this context, he referred to cricket and said the area has lot of talent which will be provided all the facilities to flourish. As a modest step, he provided cricket kits to each participant and hoped that Nagrota youth will establish name and achieve fame in the Ranjhi and other tournaments.
The Provincial President said Nagrota will soon have a cricket association which will oversee the facilities being created for the talented young people.
He also announced that league based cricket activities will be undertaken from next year to encourage the budding players of the state in a big way.
Rana envisioned a big future for Nagrota youth in cricket and hoped talented ones will take up the game as a career. He said the talent of Jammu and Kashmir needs to be showcased in the highest fora so that youth get the attention and recognition they deserve.