GANDERBAL: In a significant boost to local sports and youth engagement, Minister for Youth Services and Sports, Satish Sharma, attended the final match of the Talent Hunt U19 Cricket Tournament held at Safapora, Ganderbal today.
The tournament, organized by Friends Humanitarian Trust, Safapora, saw enthusiastic participation from 16 teams and spanned from June to November 2024.
While addressing the gathering, Satish Sharma highlighted the government’s commitment to establishing world-class sports facilities in Jammu and Kashmir under the leadership of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
He urged youth to balance their academic pursuits with active involvement in sports, stating, “Sports play a crucial role in channelizing youth potential, keeping them away from social evils, and instilling discipline and teamwork.”
The Minister also announced plans for organizing sports activities across Jammu and Kashmir, with upcoming events such as marathons in various constituencies following the recent success in Srinagar.
On the occasion, the Minister interacted with players, extending his encouragement and distributing trophies, participation certificates, sports kits and cash prizes to both teams as a token of appreciation for their sportsmanship and dedication. Besides, the organizers and Under-15 cricket team of the area were also felicitated and provided sports kits.
Satish Sharma also visited Manasbal Lake and said that experts are being consulted to develop Manasbal as a premier water sports destination, which will not only provide ample employment opportunities but also allow local talent to gain exposure at the national and international levels.
Highlighting the potential of Manasbal Lake, Asia’s deepest freshwater lake, as a prime location for water sports, the Minister shared that Chief Minister Abdullah has directed a feasibility assessment for water sports activities in the lake.
The Minister also inspected the proposed site for a multipurpose sports ground at Kohistan Colony, Safapora. He directed the concerned revenue authorities to expedite all the codal formalities before the YS&S department prepares the requisite plan.
The Minister assured full support for the development of a state-of-the-art sports facility in the area. He also instructed the Revenue and Sports Department to conduct a joint survey and consider road accessibility to the site to enhance connectivity.
This initiative represents a step towards fulfilling the government’s vision of empowering youth through sports and creating avenues for their growth and excellence in various athletic fields.
During the visit, the Minister was accompanied by ACR Ganderbal, Divisional Sports Officer, DYSSO, Tehsildar Lar and other senior officials from the sports and revenue department.
