Excelsior Sports Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Apr 26: The Directorate of Youth Services and Sports (YS&S) today inaugurated the “Leagues of Classics” Inter-District UT-Level Football Tournament at Polo Ground here, with Director General Anuradha Gupta launching the competition.
The tournament will see participation from all 20 districts of the Union Territory and includes both students and non-students, officials said, describing it as an effort to engage youth and curb drug abuse.
Addressing the gathering, Gupta said the initiative aims to create a unified and inclusive sporting platform across Jammu and Kashmir.
“The ‘Leagues of Classics’ is a dedicated platform designed to bridge the gap between students and non-students across all districts,” she said.
Highlighting its broader objective, she said sports are being used as a preventive tool against substance abuse and social isolation.
“Our mission transcends the boundaries of the scoreboard; we are here to build a resilient generation that chooses the sweat of the stadium over the shadows of addiction,” Gupta said.
She added that the program is part of a wider outreach to engage youth constructively.
“By bringing the Leagues of Classics to every zone and district, we are not just playing a game; we are launching a movement to reclaim our youth from the clutches of drug abuse and social isolation,” she said, asserting that sports help build “health, discipline, and integrity.”
Gupta also said UT-level tournaments in cricket and volleyball are currently underway and will conclude in the coming days, indicating an expanded sports calendar.
Teams from districts including Anantnag, Baramulla, Kupwara, Pulwama, Jammu, Kathua, Rajouri and Samba are participating in the football tournament, which will continue over the next few days.
Earlier, District Youth Services and Sports Officer Srinagar, Ghulam Hassan Lone, termed the initiative an “out-of-the-box” effort to channelise youth energy and curb drug abuse.
During the event, Gupta administered the “Nasha Mukt Jammu and Kashmir Abhiyan” pledge to participants and spectators.
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