Jammu: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday inaugurated two state-of-the-art indoor sports facilities—the Baba Jitto Indoor Stadium at Marh and the Indoor Sports Stadium at Jourian, Akhnoor—dedicating them to the youth of the region.
Speaking on the occasion, the Lieutenant Governor said the newly established indoor stadiums, equipped with modern shooting ranges and multi-purpose indoor courts, are designed to inspire excellence among young athletes and nurture future champions.
He emphasized that under the leadership of Narendra Modi, Jammu & Kashmir is steadily emerging as a sports hub, with world-class infrastructure now reaching beyond major cities to the grassroots level.
The Lieutenant Governor also interacted with the youth of Marh and Akhnoor through a virtual session, reiterating his administration’s commitment to inclusive sports development and encouraging wider participation among young aspirants.
During his address, he called upon all sections of society—particularly women and youth—to actively lead the movement for a “Nasha Mukt Jammu Kashmir.” Urging citizens to report instances of substance abuse, he said both the police and civil administration are working relentlessly to dismantle drug trafficking networks and support rehabilitation efforts.
The indoor stadiums have been developed by the District Administration Jammu in collaboration with HDFC Bank under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative. The facilities feature a modern rifle shooting range, high-quality badminton and table tennis courts, dedicated spaces for indoor games such as carrom and chess, and a well-equipped reading room for local youth.
The inaugural ceremony at Lok Bhavan was attended by Dr. Mandeep K. Bhandari, Principal Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor; Ramesh Kumar, Divisional Commissioner Jammu; Dr. Rakesh Minhas, Deputy Commissioner Jammu; Vidhu Shekar, Additional Deputy Commissioner Jammu; and representatives of HDFC Bank.
Member of Legislative Assembly Marh, Surinder Bhagat, and Member of Legislative Assembly Akhnoor, Mohan Lal Bhagat, along with senior officials, prominent citizens, and residents from Marh and Jourian, also joined the event through virtual mode.
