STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Minister for Information Technology (IT), Technical Education and Youth Services and Sports, Moulvi Imran Raza Ansari on Tuesday declared open 62nd National School Games (NSGs) in the disciplines of Cricket Under-17 Girls and Tennis Cricket Under-19 Boys and Girls at MAM Stadium here.
Minister for Social Welfare, ARI Trainings, Science and Technology, Sajjad Gani Lone and Minister of State for Youth Services and Sports, Sunil Sharma were also present on the occasion.
The championship is organised by the Youth Services and Sports (YSS) Department under the aegis of the School Games Federation of India (SGFI) in which many teams from all over the country are participating.
While declaring the event open, Ansari thanked the participating teams and their players for coming here and making this event a success. He said that the government is firm to involve the youth of the State in sports activities to boost their morale. He said various measures are underway to involve more and more youth in to sports adding the Central Government has sanctioned an amount of Rs 200 crore for revival of sports infrastructure and activities in the State adding that the government has decided to go in for a major upgrade of the existing sports infrastructure to make it at par with the best in the country.
Ansari said that it is the endeavour of the present government to organise such events in order to channelise the energy of youth for constructive purposes. He urged the participants to spread the message of peace, communal harmony through the spirit of sportsmanship.
Minister of State, Youth Services and Sports Sunil Kumar Sharma highlighted the measures taken for further improvements in the functioning of the YSS Department by the present government. He said government is committed to upgrade the basic infrastructure for the sports activities.
Sharma said that the talent is present among the youth of the State but need is to channelise it in a proper way. He said government is committed to provide every help to the talented youth to show their ability.
Director Youth Services and Sports, Sheikh Fayaz Ahmed briefed about the arrangements made for conducting the event.
Later, a culture programmes depicting the cultural ethos of various states of the country was presented by the students.
Earlier, a special issue of newsletter on the activities and achievements of the YSS Department was released by the ministers.
Prominent among others present on the occasion were Member Legislative Assembly, Kupwara Bashir Ahmad Dar, Commissioner Secretary, YSS Hilal Ahmad Parray, Secretary Sports Council Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra, Observer, SGFI S. L. Choudhary, Joint Director YSS Jammu, Madan Lal, Deputy Director YSS Central, Haji Mirza Hussain, Accounts Officer YSS, A. R. Shigan, representatives of SGFI, large number of sports lovers, school children and prominent citizens.
