SRINAGAR: The J&K Sports Council in its reach out to the far-off areas conducted sports activities in the Monghall area of South Kashmir where people from different walks of life thronged the playing field all day, today.
Many senior citizens including men and women assembled on the playing field and participated in many traditional sports activities. The participants were accompanied by their family members which included a good number of kids who enjoyed the activities to the hilt.
The event kicked off with a cricket match between local teams, followed by a volleyball match with the players from the area. The center of attraction however remained the “Tug of War” for all age categories from young kids to veterans. The athletic race for all the participants was also organized at the venue under different age categories.
The Director General Budget, Mohammad Yaqoob Itoo presided over the function as the guest of honor and appreciated both the organizing body J&K Sports Council for reaching out to the far-flung areas of J&K and equally applauded all the participants who had turned in large numbers for the event.
Itoo said that the presence of senior citizens is commendable as they have sent a loud message that sports should not be associated with young people only and they are equal stakeholders.
The role of J&K Sports Council for putting serious efforts and connecting citizens to sports even in remote areas is appreciable, he added.
Addressing the participants at the venue, Nuzhat Gull Secretary of the J&K Sports Council said that sports is the sole means to maintain a healthy and well-disciplined lifestyle, adding that it is an equal and excellent stress buster that keeps us away from health hazard activities and has played a major role in combating the evil effects of drug abuse.
She also said that the Sports Council in its pursuit to encourage a healthy lifestyle shall follow with more such events in the future in other areas of South Kashmir and elsewhere in J&K.
Sports is for everyone and we should all benefit from it, J&K government aims to provide equal opportunities to all and excel in sports regardless of age or gender restrictions, Gull added.
The senior citizens’ sports vertical has been added to the sports reach-out programme on the directions of the Chief Secretary of J&K, who is very keen to see veterans engaging in sports and propagating the benefits of sports among young who are falling prey to substance abuse, Nuzhat Gull said while concluding.
Playing kits and refreshments were distributed among the participants. The Secretary Sports Council and Director General Budget also dedicated one motorized ground roller for the Monghall playfield in addition to the announcement of necessary civil works in the ground to make it fit for round-the-year sports activities.
The event was organized by J&K Sports Council as part of the government’s special initiative under the “Har Din Khel, Har Ek Ke Liye Khel” vertical.
