Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 25: Advising youth to make sports their habit and hobby, the Minister for Finance and Ladakh Affairs Abdul Rahim Rather today said extra-curricular activities and sports are pivotal for the development of mental and physical health.
Speaking to a gathering of Table Tennis players, after inaugurating 34th J&K State Table Tennis Championship 2012 at the Indoor Sports complex, in MAM stadium, Jammu, this afternoon, Rather said sports also imbibes team spirit, discipline and order, which are important for leading a successful and disciplined life.
Mr Rather said the sports also enables a person to take quick decision which is a basic requirement to be a good administrator and one who possesses the quality of quick decision making leads a successful and comfortable life. He said Table Tennis is a good game as it is played indoors without any barriers of weather conditions. He assured his full support to the Table Tennis association for promoting this game in the State.
The five days (25th-29th December) Championship has been organized by the J&K Table Tennis Association and sponsored by J&K State Sports Council. About 250 tennis players from all over Jammu province including Poonch, Doda, Udhampur, Kishtwar and Jammu etc are participating in the championship.
In all eight categories of players including under 12 years (cadet boys and girls), under 14 years (sub-junior boys and girls), under 16 years (Junior boys and Girls), under youth, Men, women, and doubles men have been formed.
The Secretary Sports Council, Mr. Dalip Thusoo presented memento to the Minister.
The President of the Table Tennis Association, V. K. Magoo, Secretary, Ajay Sharma, General Secretary, Billiards and Snooker Association Sheetal Gandotra, General Secretary Archery Association, Sunil Sharma, Chief Sports Officer, M. S. Baba, Sports Officer, Rajan Sharma and Ravi Singh, Manager Indoor Stadium, Satish Gupta, Vice President, J&K Table Tennis Association, Vicky Mahajan welcomed the Minister on his arrival in the Indoor Stadium.