Surmounting many hurdles, the state sportspersons brought glory to the
sports sector. Rajesh Dhar sums up the
achievement of these dedicated and gritty sportspersons in the yearender.
Going down the memory lanes, one finds J&K struggling in the field of sports at almost all the levels, yet presence of top class individual performers had always been there in some or the other sports discipline. Majeed Kakroo, Surinder Singh Bagal, Sonia Sharma, Arun Malhotra, Mehraj-ud-Din Wadoo and Ishfaq Ahmed are a few outstanding sportspersons to name. However, in the year 2013, ace sportspersons of Jammu and Kashmir have not only blossomed at the national level, but at the international arena as well. Leading from the front in this race are Parvez Rasool Zargar, Atul Pangotra, Krupali Singh, Palak Kour and Kuldeep Handoo etc. Apart from some splendid individual performances, J&K witnessed some extraordinary team performances, which included good show by J&K Ranji trophy team, fencing team, handball team roll ball team and gymnastic team etc. Moreover, the year witnessed organization of high quality National Level Championships in the disciplines of Under-17 boys’ football, Under-14 boys and girls volleyball, Senior National Badminton Championship, Fencing Championship, Handball Championship and a good number of matches under the banner of Board of Control for Cricket in India.
Promising Shubam makes
it to India U-19 team
After scoring over 700 runs with 3 centuries and 4 half-centuries in Cooch Behar Under-19 boys Cricket Tournament last season, Shubam Pradeep Khajuria was selected for India Under-19 team for the tour of Sri Lanka and Quadrangular Series in India. He performed well in both the tours whenever he got a chance. Presently, Shubam is busy with this season’s Cooch Behar Trophy, in which the talented cricketer has already scored 540 runs including a double century (214), a big century (150) and couple of half-centuries. This performance has fetched him place in U-19 World Cup probables.
Talented Rasool’s selection
in Team India squad
The year 2013 witnessed selection of J&K’s all-rounder Parvez Rasool Zargar’s selection in Team India, a historic moment for the State of Jammu and Kashmir as he became the first ever cricketer from the State to get the nod of National selectors. After a marvelous Ranji Trophy season in 2012-13, Parvez was included in India-A squad to play a warm-up match against England on January 6, 2013. Thereafter, Rasool represented Board President’s XI to play against touring Australia, wherein all-rounder wreaked havoc to take 7-wicket haul and bowl-out them for a modest total of 241 runs. His scalps included top-order players like Ed Cowan, Mathew Wade and Steve Smith. This performance fetched him place in IPL team and later in Team India squad.
Arjuna Awardee Krupali bestows tips to Indian gymnasts
J&K’s Krupali Singh, Arjuna Awardee bestowed tips to the Indian gymnasts by accompanying the Indian team in World RG Championships at Ukraine in August 2013. Krupali also passed the International Gymnastics Judges Course, organized by International Gymnastics Federation at Singapore in November, 2013. Coach SP Singh also accompanied the Indian Gymnastics Team as official in the 6th Asian RG Championships at Tashkent in Uzbekistan in June, 2013.
Gutsy Ian slams thunderous ton
Stylish Jammu and Kashmir batsman, Ian Dev Singh Chauhan slammed a power-packed ton (145) in the prestigious Duleep Trophy semifinal match this season, eclipsing the century scored by former India Under-19 skipper Unmukt Chand in this match.
Manzoor, Kalra get BCCI nod
Apart from Dr. Farooq Abdullah, Union Minster for New and Renewable Energy and president Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA), Manzoor wazir, treasurer JKCA, Ranjeet Kalra, chairman Media Committee JKCA and Mehboob Iqbal were inducted in BCCI sub committees in the year 2013. Kalra was also nominated as member, J and K State Sports Council and chairman Sports Advisory Board, Doda.
Taekwondo star Atul Pangotra excels
Taekwondo star Atul Pangotra, who was the only medalist from Jammu and Kashmir in Commonwealth Taekwondo Championship in 2011-12, continued his brilliance and excelled at the International Level in 2013 also, besides receiving Sher-e-Kashmir Sports Award for outstanding sports persons.
Ace gymnast Palak represents India
Gritty gymnast, Palak Kour represented India at the International Level in 6th Asian RG Championship at Tashkent in Uzbakistan in the month of June and in 32nd World RG Championships at Kiev in Ukrain in the month of August, 2013. Palak has the honour of being the recipient of Sher-e-Kashmir Sports Award for outstanding sportspersons. Apart from Palak’s excellence, the State gymnasts sparkled in 12th National Aerobic Gymnastics Championships at Mumbai in the month of May, 2013. While the team of Jaskaran Singh, Inderdeep Singh, Parul Mehra, Honey Mehra, Tejpal Kour and Ravia Verma clinched bronze in this championship, Manpreet Kour and Mayank Jain won gold and bronze medals in women and men individuals. In mix pair, the duo of Mayank Jain and Tejpal Kour bagged gold, while the trio of Parul Mehra, Tejpal Kour and Ravia Verma claimed bronze. In junior men, Karanjyot Singh bagged silver, while in sub junior, Mehak Chhetri and Gourav Chhetri clinched women and men gold. Mehak Chhetri and Gourav chhetri won bronze in mixed pair.
Nikita Thakur wins bronze
Budding skater, Nikita Thakur was on a roll in this year’s skating nationals as she claimed bronze medals more than once. Manvi Jaggi and Ishita Singh also blossomed in skating Nationals organized by different agencies.
Ashok receives Indian team’s
‘fair play award’ trophy
Former Deputy Director Youth Services and Sports, Director Sports SMVDSB and vice president School Games Federation of India (SGFI), Ashok Kumar received prestigious Indian team’s ‘fair play award trophy’ bagged in ISF World Cup Basketball Under-19 Boys Championship at Cyprus in Europe. Mr Ashok was the manager of the Indian team, sponsored by School Games Federation of India.
J&K fencers’ bag sabre team gold
The fencers of Jammu and Kashmir claimed gold medal in sabre team event of the 24th Senior National Fencing Championship held at Indoor Complex in MA Stadium recently. The participants in the event included Rashid Ahmed Choudhary, Major Vikram Singh, Ujjawal Gupta and Vishal Thappa. J&K bagged overall third place in the Championship, besides winning two gold and one silver in the year 2013.
Revival of Sher-e-Kashmir Sports Award
The year 2013 witnessed revival of Sher-e-Kashmir Sports Award for outstanding sportspersons and the glittering ceremony of award presentation was held at Zorawar Singh Auditorium, University of Jammu, wherein Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah was the chief guest and Minister for Sports, Taj Mohi-ud-Din was the guest of honour. State gymnasts led from the front in receiving this prestigious award and bagged 13 of them, followed by six awards clinched by ace footballers of the State.
Heena, Inayat sparkle in Taekwondo Nationals
J&K’s Heena Bali and Inayat Hussain sparkled in 59th National School Games in the discipline of Taekwondo Under-17 years boys and girls Tournament held at Chhattisgarh recently. These players were part of J&K State contingent, sponsored by the Department of Youth Services and Sports, under the patronage of Navin Aggarwal, Director General Youth Services of Sports and under the auspices of School Games Federation of India (SGFI).
State handball team wins gold
Gutsy handball player, Neeraj represented India in International IHF Contingental Trophy and Pattle Cup International Championship held in Sweden in the year 2013. SM Bali, Chief Executive Officer, Handball Federation of India was manager of the Indian team, while handball coach Dev Raj was the coach of Indian women team. Moreover, J&K Handball team bagged bronze medal in North Zone Championship and won gold in All India Raizada Prehald Bali Federation Cup hosted by the State in Jammu. SM Bali was also awarded Doctorate for his administrative achievements in handball in the current year.
State hosts galaxy of Nationals
A series of high quality National Level Tournaments, organized by the two elite Sports Organisations of the State namely Department of Youth Services and Sports and J&K State Sports Council, were hosted by the State with great enthusiasm and pomp and show. The Tournaments included Under-17 Boys Football Tournament and Under-14 Boys and Girls Volleyball Tournament, organized by the DYSS in Srinagar and Jammu respectively, which witnessed a huge participation of teams drawn from across the Country; Senior National Badminton Championship, organized by J&K Badminton Association, under the banner of J&K State Sports Council, which had the distinction of witnessing participation of ace national shuttlers including Purapalli Kashyap, Anoop Shridhar, Chetan Anand and Sourav Verma.The State also hosted Handball Federation Cup.
Handoo excels as National coach
Kuldeep Handoo has the distinction of helping India Wushu team clinch medals at the International scene. With Handoo as coach, the Indian Wushu team clinched silver medal in the World Games at Cali in Colombia and 6 medals in 12th World Wushu Championship in Malasia.
J&K Ranji team almost certain to
qualify for knockout stage
Registering outright victories over the formidable teams of Goa, Andhra, Kerala and Assam, the Jammu and Kashmir Ranji trophy team is all set to qualify for the knockout stage, under the captaincy of Parvez Rasool, after a gap of 14 years as J&K had earlier qualified for the knockout stage in the year 2000, when the J&K team was led by Test cricketer, Ajay Jadeja.
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