Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 29: Different organisations across Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh celebrated National Sports Day with great enthusiasm and fervour. This annual event, held on the birth anniversary of hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand, highlighted the importance of sports and physical fitness.
National Sports Day was celebrated across Jammu and Kashmir with enthusiasm today. At KK Hakku Stadium Jammu, Minister for Youth Services and Sports Satish Sharma highlighted the importance of discipline and unity in sports, urging grassroots training for young athletes. Celebrations in Srinagar were led by Commissioner Secretary Sarmad Hafeez and Secretary Sports Council Nuzhat Gul, featuring hockey matches, kit distribution and athlete interaction. Events were held across districts, PMDP Centres and Khelo India Centres, reflecting a strong sports culture.
The Department of Youth Services and Sports (YSS), Jammu and Kashmir, celebrated National Sports Day across the Union Territory, honoring hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand. Director General Anuradha Gupta highlighted the importance of sportsmanship and well-being. In Srinagar, activities included a three-day coaching camp at Amar Singh College, sports events for orphanage children, and an oath-taking ceremony with YSS staff and 14th Battalion Sashastra Seema Bal personnel. The celebrations will conclude with youth cycle rallies on August 31, promoting fitness.
Meanwhile, in Jammu division, DYSS organized events across all 10 districts, involving around 900 athletes and officials. Districts including Poonch, Rajouri, Udhampur, Kathua, Jammu and others held pledge ceremonies, hockey matches, and taekwondo competitions. Officers and participants pledged to promote fitness and sportsmanship, showcasing the unifying power of sports throughout the region.
Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) Jammu celebrated National Sports Day with events like Badminton, Table Tennis, Chess, Carrom and Tug of War. Winners included Rohan Yadav, Aish, Ashutosh Tiwari, Saumya Pandey, Sakshi Jha, Prabhat Dwivedi, Sanket Jha, Niharika Khurana, Sajid Raza, Anvi Jain, and Aditi Gupta. Dr Dilip Kumar, Regional Director, IIMC Jammu and Sr. Advocate Ranjit Singh Jamwal addressed the gathering. Students Aish Yadav, Hemlata Sawant and Aman Kumar Pandey also spoke.
NIT Srinagar observed National Sports Day with a fitness pledge and various sporting activities, honouring hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand. The event, organized by the Students Activity and Sports (SAS) Centre, saw active participation from students, faculty and staff. Registrar Prof. Atikur Rehman emphasized sports’ role in student life, while Dean Students Welfare Prof. Abid Bazaz highlighted the need to balance academics with physical fitness. Dr. Manoj (In-charge, SAS), SAS Officer Kowsar Ali Mir, NCC Officer Lt. Dr. Nitika Kundan and NSS Coordinator Dr. Pramod Kumar Yadav also addressed the gathering.
Chairman and Chief Executive Councilor (CEC) LAHDC Kargil, Dr Mohd. Jaffer Akhoon, attended National Sports Day celebrations themed ‘Ek Ghanta, Khel ke Maidan Main’. He highlighted ongoing efforts to develop a comprehensive sports policy for Ladakh and announced plans for a Winter Sports Academy in Kargil. Dr. Akhoon praised officials Bhanu Prabha and Tahir Zubdavi for their dedication to sports development. MP Haji Hanifa Jan congratulated the Sports Authority of India and Youth Department for promoting sports in Ladakh. The event was also attended by ADC Imteeaz Kacho, Joint Director Tahir Hussain Zubdavi, Colonel Aman Sali, athletes, and students.
Government Degree College Ramgarh celebrated National Sports Day 2025 under the guidance of Principal Prof. (Dr.) Meeru Abrol with Carrom, Chess and Table Tennis competitions. Winners included Gurmeet Kour, Hema Choudhary and Vijay Kumar. Prof. Abrol emphasized sports for holistic development, while Ashok Kumar highlighted the Fit India Mission and the importance of inclusive sports.
Government Degree College Marheen celebrated National Sports Day 2025 with enthusiasm under the patronage of Principal Prof. (Dr.) Anupama Gupta. A debate competition was held to mark Major Dhyan Chand’s birth anniversary. Kanika, Sonali and Monika secured top positions. Dr. Balbinder Singh coordinated the event, judged by Dr. Arun Dev Singh, Prof. Anoop Sharma, and Dr. Munisha Devi.
A thrilling handball match was held at Mini Stadium Udhampur, marked National Sports Day, with the DYSS Handball Club defeating the Kargil Martyrs Club Veterans by 16-11. District Youth Services & Sports Officer (Udhampur) Romesh Chander Mishra lauded the event as a fitting tribute to Major Dhyan Chand and a celebration of national unity. Referees Rishi Sharma and Manmeet Singh ensured fair play, while the DYSS team expertly managed the event.
Nations Development Association (NDA), guided by MLA Dr. Devinder Kumar Manyal, celebrated National Sports Day at Ramgarh. Certificates were awarded to Tanot Warriors, 13th Battalion BSF and Village Nanga Sports Club for their dedication. Key guests included DDC Member Antia Choudhary, Assistant Commandants Suresh Kumar and Akhilesh Kumar and local dignitaries.
National Sports Day was celebrated at Government Boys Higher Secondary School, Leh, with participation from nearby schools. Deputy Chief Executive Councillor Tsering Angchuk graced the event as chief guest, while Councillor Tsering Namgail and District Youth Services Officer Tsering Tashi attended as guests of honour. Speeches encouraged students to engage more in sports and reduce mobile use.
On National Sports Day, Sham Lal Hockey Club (SLHC) and Power House Hockey Club (PHHC) hosted exhibition matches at BHSS Poonch’s Astroturf Ground, organized by Hockey J&K and local sports bodies. SLHC won 2-1 in boys’ category; KIHC clinched 1-0 in girls’. Chief guest Mohan Lal Sharma praised Major Dhyan Chand’s legacy. The event was supervised by Pawan Kumar and Mukesh Kumar, with Vijay Kumar as MC. Prizes were sponsored by SLHC.
District Poonch Volleyball Association, in collaboration with Shaheed DySP Manjit Singh Memorial Volleyball Club Poonch, celebrated National Sports Day with great enthusiasm. Khalil Ahmad Banday was the chief guest and appreciated the efforts of both organizations for promoting sports in remote and border areas. He urged youth to stay away from bad habits. Notable attendees included social activist Pardeep Khanna, Imtaiz Ahmad Salaria (Vice President, Volleyball Association Poonch) and Imtaiz Lone.
On National Sports Day 2025, around 150 judokas participated in the Jammu District Sub-Junior Judo Championship organized by Judo Association J&K under the aegis of J&K Sports Council. In the girls’ category, first place winners included Manya, Shallu, Rachita, Monika, Ruhi, Kritika and Ananya. Boys’ category toppers were Ajit Kumar, Piyush, Zulfkar Ali, Ritika, Rajveer, Suleman, Zaheer Aslam, Avilaksh, and Aadvan. Chief Guest Suraj Sharma distributed medals where as bouts were officiated by Vikas Dogra, Ritika Slathia, Jugal Kishore, Avinash Sharma and others.
The National Sports Day, organized by the Badminton Association of J&K in collaboration with the J&K Sports Council, commenced at the Badminton Hall, MA Stadium, Jammu. The event commemorates the birth anniversary of Major Dhyan Chand, the legendary “Wizard of Hockey.” The Sub-Junior (Under-15 and Under-17) competition for boys and girls began with strong participation from players, officials and parents. Today’s results included wins by Divesh & Shashwat, Sanvi & Sharanya, Shivansh & Himanshu, and Paavni & Diamond in their respective doubles categories.
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