JAMMU: Making a call to youth to discourage drugs by encouraging sports, Former Minister and MLA Darhal Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali on Sunday kicked off North India Powerlifting Championship-2016 in presence of Arjuna and International Hall of Fame Awardee Subrata Dutta.
A total of 305 players from North Indian states have already reached Jammu to participate in this championship.
Organised by Indian Powerlifting Federation, the championship was scheduled to be held in Karnal Haryana however due to unfavourable situation in Haryana, the venue was shifted to Jammu where it was inaugurated by former Minister Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali in presence of dignitaries and sportsmen of North India.
The championship is organised at RKS Gym Jammu in association with J and K Sports Powerlifting Association where sportsmen from J and K, Delhi, Haryana, Utrakhand, Punjab, UP and Himachal Pradesh have already thronged with great enthusiasm.
Speaking in the inaugural function, Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali made a strong appeal to youth of the nation to come forward with a force to fight against drug addiction. He said that drug abuse is fast increasing among youth and it is turning fatal for them.
He said that the only way out to deal the situation is to engage youth in sports and art activities. He said that sport and the arts should constitute an essential component of a broader youth-centred strategy for prevention of drug abuse. He added that if youth have activities that engage them, they will be less likely to resort to drug use. “Having strong mentors and close knit communities will definitely help prevent youth becoming part of the drug trade”, he added.
Appealing youth to turn force against drug abuse, he said that future of the country should be having strong body and strong mind. He appreciated the role of Indian Powerlifting Federation and J and K Sports Powerlifting Association for organising this mega event in the City of Temples. He said that J and K has good talent in all sports activities and the State is having good number players who are representing India at international level. He expressed pleasure that a youth Chain Singh of Doda has been selected to represent India in Rio Olympics 2016 in Rifle shooting.