Satish Sharma meets union sports minister, discusses initiatives to make J&K sports hub

New Delhi, Jan 12: In a significant move to bolster sports development in Jammu and Kashmir, Minister for FCS & CA, Transport, Youth Services, and Sports, Satish Sharma, met with the Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, in New Delhi.

During the meeting, Sharma discussed transformative initiatives to establish J&K as a prominent sports hub, with an overall development of J&K, especially Youth Services and Sports.

He emphasised the region’s immense potential in sports. He advocated for enhanced infrastructure, rural outreach programs, and the promotion of adventure and winter sports to attract national and international events.

Dr. Mandaviya assured full support and reaffirmed the Centre's commitment to nurturing J&K’s youth through sports.

The Minister expressed heartfelt gratitude and admiration for the remarkable initiatives undertaken by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Gol.

Satish Sharma said that proactive efforts, unwavering commitment, and consistent support being extended by the Ministry to Jammu and Kashmir have significantly bolstered the sports ecosystem in the region.

The Minister asserted that events and initiatives under various flagship programs like Khelo India have played a pivotal role in identifying and nurturing young talent. Besides, the projects to upgrade sports infrastructure have brought new hope and enthusiasm to the youth of J&K.

Satish Sharma further added that Jammu and Kashmir, with its unique geographical and cultural diversity, has immense talent across various sports disciplines. There is significant sports potential and aspirations of youth in the region to excel in sports, which require enhanced infrastructure and focused developmental initiatives.

He emphasised the pressing need for state-of-the-art sports infrastructure and the implementation of central schemes to nurture the talent effectively.

The Minister urged for establishing Khelo India centres and infrastructure support in the rural/border areas of J&K, SAI centres focusing on handball in border/rural areas like Akhnoor, Rajouri, Poonch, and Kupwara, promotion of adventure and winter sports across the famous destinations to utilise J&K's unique geography, augmentation of facilities at Gulmarg and other potential hubs like Sonamarg, Pahalgam, and snowfall-bound parts of Jammu province for winter sports to attract national and international events.

Satish Sharma also got the attention of the Union Minister towards some important measures like high-performance coaches to support football, wrestling, table tennis, water sports, and hockey, implementation of the scheme as given to the north-east for equipment under the peace and development initiative, special focus on talent identification by conducting Khelo India Talent Identification Camps in remote areas to ensure inclusivity and tap into untapped potential, introducing skill development programs for coaches, trainers, and sports administrators to ensure professional management to enhance the sports ecosystem in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Union Minister listened to all the issues and demands put forth by Satish Sharma and assured to consider them for prompt action.

He said that the Center government is committed to providing better sports infrastructure and modern facilities in the UT. He assured unwavering support from the Ministry for the brighter future of the youth of J&K through sports.