STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Secretary, Bandipora District Volleyball Association, Arsullah Habib on Sunday lauded the initiatives of the Volleyball Association of Jammu and Kashmir (VAJK) for reinforcing the spirit of national unity and communal harmony among the youth of the Union Territory.
Addressing the Annual General Meeting of the Volleyball Association of J&K held in Jammu, Habib recalled the initiation of volleyball matches, in the Valley during most challenging times, saying how these made a big difference in heralding peace. “Such was the sporting spirit, that during the first competition, terrorists and stone pelters, present during the Volleyball match, didn’t dare to interfere keeping in view the overall mood of the people, especially the youth “, Habib said, adding that this helped the situation to improve in a big way.
Habib said that despite the difficult security environment, an atmosphere of camaraderie and sportsmanship prevailed at such volleyball events, even as stone pelters opted to maintain peace. He said that volleyball has emerged as a powerful medium for positively channelising youthful energy across the Kashmir Valley, helping many young people transition from disruptive activities to constructive engagement in sports.
Habib said that the volleyball fraternity in the Union Territory has significantly expanded the game’s reach by taking it to far-flung and border areas such as Drass, Kupwara and Poonch. These sustained efforts, he said, have yielded impressive outcomes, with players from Jammu and Kashmir making their mark at both national and international volleyball arenas.
