JAMMU: Formidable cricketer and former Indian captain, Virender Sehwag on Sunday said that the youth of the Jammu and Kashmir State have great capabilities in cricket and time has come to give them more opportunities to channelise their potential in positive direction.
Talking to reporters after inaugurating the Sehwag Cricket Academy at Heritage School Jammu, Virender said that sports impart discipline and sense of responsibility among the players, which is key to the overall development of youth and to realise the cherished dreams.
Sehwag emphasised the need to channelise the talent which is found in every nook and corner of India and which if nurtured and facilitated can produce many more Sehwags.
Earlier, in the inaugural event ‘Sehwag V/s You Contest’, Virender Sehwag gave 100 youngsters, an opportunity to bowl to him and win a free training in his academy.
One contestant, Master Prince Gupta, who bowled out Sehwag, was awarded with free coaching facility in his Academy and also received autographed personal gloves from Sehwag.
Ace cricketer from Jammu and the young trainees of Sehwag Cricket Academy, Mithun Manhas and Commissioner Jammu Municipality Corporation, Kiran Wattal, who is a keen sportsperson himself, were also present.
On Saturday, a day prior to the inauguration, witnessed an exuberant rush as students between the age group of 10 and 20 years flocked towards the school for registration.
After the welcome address by Headmistress of the School, the popular RJ Juhi, Sarang and Manas of 92.7 Big FM took over and kept the spectators and the waiting children enthralled with their wit and humour as the contestants vied with each other to impress and put their best foot forward in front of Sehwag.
First 100 registered children were given an opportunity to bowl to Virender Sehwag.
Heritage School grounds have been chosen as the venue for the Academy that has an extended tie-up with the Australian, South African and English Cricket Academies for regular exchange programmes through which budding cricketers of Jammu will enjoy a life time opportunity to interact and play at International venues exposing them to global arenas.
The Principal, Heritage School, expressed his deep gratitude to provide the school with this opportunity to facilitate budding talents in nurturing their enthusiasm and be a vehicle of commitment towards the same. He also thanked the large number of parents who had escorted their wards to the school ground.
