Excelsior Sports Correspondent
Srinagar, Oct 10: The 69th National School Games 2025 for Football concluded today here with Kerala lifting the trophy after a commanding 2-0 win over Meghalaya in a thrilling grand finale.
The five-day tournament, organised by the Directorate of Youth Services and Sports (YSS) J&K under the aegis of the School Games Federation of India (SGFI), featured intense competition among under-19 football teams from across the country.
Kerala sealed their place in the final after a hard-fought 4-3 penalty shootout win against Manipur, following a 2-2 draw in regulation time.
Meghalaya reached the title clash by defeating hosts Jammu and Kashmir by 3-1 in the semi-final.
In the third-place match, J&K edged past Manipur by 4-3 in a thrilling contest to claim the bronze.
Reflecting on the team’s performance, J&K Coach and international footballer Ishfaq Ahmed said, “We may have missed the gold, but the spirit, pride, and passion of our boys shine brighter than ever. Every effort, every kick, every moment was pure dedication to Team J&K and YSS. Proud J&K.”
Director General YSS J&K, Anuradha Gupta, congratulated the winners and lauded the organising committees for the smooth conduct of the event.
“The success of this event is a reflection of our team’s dedication. I hope the same zeal is carried forward as we prepare to host the upcoming Nationals in Wushu, Taekwondo, and Table Tennis in Jammu,” she said.
The Media and Publicity Committee of YSS played a key role in the tournament’s outreach, broadcasting all 58 matches live and providing continuous updates across social media platforms.
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