JAMMU: Minister for Jal Shakti, Forest, Ecology & Environment and Tribal Affairs, Javed Ahmed Rana, today attended the concluding ceremony of the 20th National Matsogi-Do Championship 2025 at the University of Jammu Gymnasium Hall.
The four-day national championship, held from December 28 to 31, brought together martial artists from across the country and witnessed a high standard of competition marked by discipline, skill and exemplary sportsmanship.
MLA Budhal Javaid Iqbal Choudhary was the guest of honour at the event, which was organised under the supervision of Mahinder Keaseri, President, Matsogi-Do Federation of India; Gurdeep Singh, General Secretary; Taranjeet Singh Tony, President, State Matsogi-Do Association and Rattan Lal Gupta, Provincial President.
Addressing the gathering, the Minister congratulated the participants and organisers for the successful conduct of the event.
He lauded the athletes for their dedication, perseverance and commitment to excellence. He described Matsogi-Do as a modern combat martial art that effectively integrates self-defence techniques, physical fitness and mental discipline. He observed that the sport is steadily gaining popularity among the youth due to its emphasis on speed, tactical movement, agility and strong sporting values.
Highlighting the wider significance of the sports, the Minister said that national-level championships play a crucial role in identifying emerging talent for international competitions. He added that such events also help project Jammu & Kashmir as a peaceful, progressive and sports-friendly destination.
Reaffirming Omar Abdullah Government’s commitment, he assured continued support for strengthening sports infrastructure and promoting youth participation across a wide range of sporting disciplines.
On the occasion, the Minister distributed cash prizes amounting ₹4.50 lakh among the outstanding performers. He announced that top-performing athletes from the championship would be shortlisted for future international events, providing them an opportunity to represent India on the global stage.
The championship featured competitions in sub-junior, junior and senior categories, with dedicated events for girls and women.
The successful hosting of this national championship highlighted the improved sports infrastructure in Jammu & Kashmir and is expected to give a significant boost to sports tourism in the region.
The Matsogi-Do Federation of India, the national governing body of the sport, continues to work towards promoting Matsogi-Do across the country by organizing national competitions and selecting elite athletes for international participation, while fostering values of confidence, self-control, and discipline among practitioners.
