J&K begins in style; drubs CBSE 2-0 in opening tie
* Lays foundation stone of Synthetic Football Turf at Khel Gaon
Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 9: Advisor to LG, Farooq Khan declared open 65th National School Games Under-17 Boys Volleyball in an impressive, colourful and well attended function amid festivity at Khel Gaon Nagrota, here today.
Advisor was the chief guest on the occasion, while Arun Kumar Mehta, Financial Commissioner (Finance) was the guest of honour.
Secretary Youth Services and Sports, Sarmad Hafeez, Director General Youth Services and Sports, Dr Saleem-ur-Rehman, Secretary J&K State Sports Council, Naseem Javaid Choudhary and a galaxy of dignitaries, added grace to the function.
More than 500 spikers from 36 teams of different parts of the country are taking part in a five-day long event.
Speaking on the occasion, Advisor Khan said that sports and games imbibe team spirit and inculcate discipline among the players, besides fair play that help children to develop into responsible citizens.
He said the mega events like this, apart from providing opportunity to young sportspersons to hone their skill to be ready to represent the country, also help them to exchange culture with their counterparts from the other States.
Advisor Khan also laid foundation stone of Synthetic Football Turf at Khel Gaon.
Terming the venue beautiful and picturesque, Advisor Khan lavished praise for the custodians of this newly developed sports facility for its development.
He ongratulated the players, who have come from across India, to participate and compete in the game of volleyball. He hoped that the guest teams will take back the message of hospitality and warmth of people of Jammu and Kashmir across India.
Referring to the upcoming Khel Gaon at Nagrota, he said that this location has a lot of potential for being developed as a sports hub and assured full government support for the purpose.
Speaking on the occasion, AK Mehta appreciated the efforts being made to promote sports in the state.
Congratulating the Youth Services and Sports department on achieving over 10 lakh participation from J&K in sports at national level and above, he said that efforts need be made to further enhance the reach of sports. He said that the government is committed to provide a playground in every Panchayat of J&K.
He further stressed the need to identify and facilitate talent from across the J&K and assured that administration would extend every possible support to promote local talent in sports.
Earlier, DG YSS in his address, briefed about the activities being undertaken to promote sports in J&K. He also briefed the Advisor on proposed plan for the Khel Gaon, Nagrota and the sports facilities envisioned for the complex.
He said the events like 65th National School Games in the discipline of Volleyball Under-17 Boys’, will go a long way in establishing this sports facility and making it a real asset in sports.
Saleem-ur-Rehman further said that every participating State/ Union Territory will be planting 15 trees/plants in a specific area provided to them by the hosts.
At the inaugural event, cultural programme was presented by students.
An environment sensitization pledge was also administered to the people present on the occasion.
The vote of thanks was presented by Bashir Ahmed, Joint Director YSS (Kashmir).
Meanwhile, J&K began its campaign in style by winning the inaugural tie, defeating CBSE by 2-0 (24-17, 25-9).
In other first round matches of the day, Uttrakhand beat MP 2-0 (25-9, 25-17), Vidya Bharti defeated Daman & Deo 2-0 (25-9, 25-11), Telangana trounced KVS 2-0 (25-22, 25-13), Haryana beat Punjab 2-0 (25-17, 25-20) and Gujarat outplayed CISE 2-0 (25-8, 25-17).
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