Raja Syed Rather
Ganderbal, Jan 9: The government’s efforts to encourage youth to take part in sports activities have been yielding positive results as 13 players from this central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district have brought home laurels by winning the Gold, Silver and Bronze medals in the National Sqay Martial Arts Championship.
The contingent from Ganderbal comprising thirteen players bagged 7 Gold, 4 Silver and 2 Bronze medals.
The 23rd National Sqay Martial Arts Championship was held in Jammu and witnessed the participation of 1,250 athletes from 22 states and 108 players from the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
The participants from Ganderbal expressed gratitude to the government for providing them with a platform to demonstrate their abilities. They, however, urged for better infrastructure such as indoor sports stadiums to be constructed in the district.
Nazia Khan, a Sqay competitor, while talking to the new agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that she was very much thankful to her family, friends, and Deputy Commissioner Gandarbal Shyambir for their “unflinching” support.
“This was the second time that I participated in a national-level tournament. I am overjoyed to have earned a Silver medal. Despite numerous difficulties, I was able to persist and achieve this accomplishment thanks to the motivation and direction of the people around me,” she said.
Nazia, however, pointed out a dearth of proper facilities and equipment that the athletes in the district face. “Ganderbal has young and gifted athletes but we lack suitable training kits or a place to practice. Our trainers are operating with limited resources,” she said.
The athlete has urged the UT administration to keep supporting the exceptionally talented young sportspersons in the district by providing them with more “advantageous stages and openings”. “Our trainers are devoted and accomplished, and with the applicable assets, we could accomplish far superior results,” she said.
Sqay coach Saleem Pathan said it was a matter of pride for him that all the contestants from the Ganderbal district who participated in this tournament won medals.
