Aubaid Ahmed Akhoon
Jammu and Kashmir has always been a favourite abode of writers, poets, religious sages, sufis, saints, the weather, the climate, the picturesque views, the beautiful lake, the lush Chinars and the various types of trees add to the beauty of this place. It also provides a relaxing and healthy environment to the sportspersons of different fields here. A good and clean environment will help an athlete to recognise his skills to the fullest. One such example of such talented youth is an international wushu player, Rajinder Singh who hails from the Village Kartholi, Bari Brahmna, from Jammu province of J&K (UT). Rajinder Singh is an highly educated youth with outstanding achievements in the sphere of sports. The youth completed his B.Sc from Jammu University and is currently pursuing doctorate in Physical Education.
In February 2018 JKOA (Jammu Kashmir Olympic Association) honoured 16 sportspersons along with Rajinder Singh with Rangil Singh Award for sports excellence in different categories of sports including Wushu .
Rajinder Singh also did a Certificate Course with “A” Grade in Sports Coaching from SAI (Sports Authority of India) from Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports, Patiala.
Chinese Wushu Martial Arts is empowering boys and girls in the Kashmir Valley to chase their love for sports. Wushu is a sport that had originated from the traditional Chinese martial arts. It was created in China after 1949 CE. Wushu has become an international sport through the International Wushu Federation (IWUF).
Kashmiris have display wonderful talents in all sports and activities, apart from other fields the boys and girls should feel free in joining the sports of their choices as well, even they can also earn their name and livelihood in the field of sports as well . A number of courses are available for sports lovers at various places in the valley.
Most of the youth today are involved in drugs and to eradicate drug addiction we have ardently involved our youth generation in various sports activities. Experts say that exercises relax people and help drug addicts to keep themselves busy instead of using drugs. Sports play an active role in all the round development of the youth. The youth learn to control their emotions, especially anger, improve their sense of responsibility, the ability to express themselves, their self-confidence and to avoid bad habits with games and sports .
“If we want our children to avoid bad habits, it is important to encourage them to play sports from an early age.”
Rajinder Singh stared playing Wushu Martial Arts from an early age and today he is the world Wushu Bronze Medalist , Asian Silver Medalist , Asia Cup Medalist and 7 times national champion.
The list of achievements is too long and I will distribute these achievements in two categories :
INTERNATIONAL SPORTS ACHIEVEMENTS
➢ Secured Bronze Medal under 80kg category for 5th Pars Cup Wushu Championship held at Tehran, Iran. (18-20 September, 2015).
➢ Secured Bronze Medal under 90kg category for 6th Pars Cup Wushu Championships held at Semnan, Iran. (14-17 April, 2017).
➢ Secured Bronze Medal under 90kg category for 7th Pars Cup Wushu Championships held at Gorgan, Iran. (22-26 June, 2018).
➢ Secured Bronze Medal under 90kg category for 14th World Wushu Championship held at Kazak, Russia. (26 Sep – 03 Oct, 2017).
➢ Secured Bronze Medal under 90kg category for 9th Wushu World Cup Championship held at China. (2018).
➢ Secured Silver Medal under 90kg category for 9th Asian Wushu Championship held at Taiwan. (01 Sep – 05 Sep, 2016).
➢ Secured Silver Medal under 90kg category for The Asia Wushu Cup held at China. (2017).
NATIONAL SPORTS ACHIEVEMENTS
➢ Secured Gold Medal in 90 kg category for 25th Senior Wushu National Championship held at Jharkhand. (25 Jan – 30 Jan 2017).
➢ Secured Gold Medal in 90 kg category for 26th Senior Wushu National Championship held at Assam Rifles Hq. (10 Oct – 15 Oct 2017).
➢ Secured Gold Medal in 90 kg category for 27th Senior Wushu National Championship held at Shillong Valley, Assam. (10 Oct – 14 Oct 2018).
➢ Secured Gold Medal in 90 kg category for 28th Senior Wushu National Championship held at Jammu. (26 Dec – 31 Dec 2019).
➢ Secured Silver Medal in 90 kg category for 29th Senior Wushu National Championship held at Chandigarh. (25 March – 02 March 2021).
➢ Secured Gold Medal in 90+ kg category for 30th Senior Wushu National Championship held at Madhya Pradesh Police Academy, Bhopal(MP). (04 Dec – 10 Dec 2021).
AWARDS & HONOURS
➢ Sher-e-Kashmir Award 2017.
➢ J&K State Award for excellence in Sports 2018.
➢ Outstanding Sportsperson Award from Samba District Administration 2022.
The versatile talented youth of our society like Rajinder Singh set magnificent examples for sport lover. “Sportsmen are disciplined people. They do not drink alcohol or smoke. They also pay attention to their sleeping habits. If you adapt yourself to a disciplined lifestyle, it will continue for the rest of your life.”
Let’s work together to create more people like Rajinder Singh who will bring laurels to our region and nation.
(The author is resident of Panderathan Srinagar A/P Housing Colony Ompora and can be reached at [email protected])
