Dooru, Verinag stadium upgrades subject to availability of financial resources: Sports Minister

Srinagar, Mar 16: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Saturday stated that the upgradation of sports stadiums in Dooru and Verinag will be explored, but any progress is subject to the availability of financial resources.

This was revealed by Minister for Youth Services and Sports, Satish Sharma, in response to a question by Congress MLA G.A. Mir during the ongoing budget session of the J&K legislative assembly in Jammu.

The government, however, acknowledged the growing inclination of youth in the Dooru constituency toward sports and confirmed the participation of 24,072 students and youngsters in various levels of competition for the year 2024-25.

The minister in charge of youth service and sport added that 11 playfields have been developed to facilitate sporting activities.

However, when questioned about the upgradation of sports stadiums in Dooru and Verinag, the government did not provide a concrete timeline or budget allocation, stating only that it would be considered "subject to financial resources."

While the significant number of sports enthusiasts come from this region of Kashmir, sports players from the area said the lack of a clear commitment raises concerns, who believe that proper infrastructure was crucial for nurturing talent and providing a platform for young athletes.