Sahil Manzoor Bhatti
Being involved in sports activities has become a passion for the youth of the valley. Sports activities have a great and immense scope at national and international levels. There are hundreds of sports activities that have been held in our country for centuries. Cricket has become famous and has attracted millions of fans from all corners of the world. Our nation has produced great names in the cricketing world like Sachin Tendulkar, Kapil Dev, Sunil Gavaskar, MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, etc. There are great names from other countries as well, like Imran Khan, Javed Miandad, Ricky Ponting, Viv Richards, Brian Lara, Sangakkara, etc., who are real lovers of any game and always favour those who have real and great talent. One beautiful thing is that Indian fans like Pakistani cricketers and Pakistani fans like Indian cricketers; this is something charming about this sports world.
We can engage our youth throughout the year in sports activities
Government administration has taken impressive initiatives to eradicate drug menaces and engage youth in different sports activities. Today it is very unfortunate that educated youth are involved in drugs and spoiling their careers and health as well. Sports activities are the best alternatives against the dreadful drug menace in the country. We need to encourage our youth towards sports activities and enhance their interests towards different sports activities so that they feel energetic and become vigilant towards the drug menace.
How can we attract youth towards educational goals?
Education has no alternative, and education has no limits, no barriers, no enemies, and no restrictions. Education is mandatory and compulsory for all living in our nation. We believe education has the great potential to eradicate all types of evils from a society, and education is the weapon that can make a nation proud and produce great personalities. Today acquiring education is so easy, and anyone can get hold of great concepts through different channels like newspapers, magazines, print media, and the internet, which are great sources to learn great things.
How can we make sports activities interesting at any level?
Sports activities are initially interesting; sometimes people who are not interested, we can make them interested by giving them chances to do what they like and what they don’t, like some like batting; we didn’t get them a chance to go and show their performances. When we learn proper rules, it becomes interesting, and we feel the something. Learning things about anything induces interest among us and makes us dwell upon that. Sports activities should be mandatory at the school level; students should be given grades. Like maintaining discipline, energy, leadership, etc.
Winters and the facilities in sports activities in the valley
Kashmir is known for harsh winters. The accumulation of snow records up to 6 ft in higher reaches; there are limited sports activities held during winters, like skiing and some indoor games like badminton, carrom, boxing, etc. One thing that is unfortunate is that we have very limited indoor complexes that are also at the district level. Today there is not much difference between urban and rural areas. The government has extended road connectivity in every corner of the valley under different schemes like PMGSY and NABARD schemes, etc. People are living with comfort, and we have difficulties in other fields, like unemployment in upper reaches where there is a lack of skills among the youth, and they are struggling. Artisans work is famous in villages but not earning a handsome amount.
What we need to engage our youth during winters?
We can see little children playing on roads where they have the risk of accidents and getting hurt by the traffic moment. Always we must have considered the safety and security of the children. We have to take into our conversation their issues. Indoor complexes should be sanctioned at panchayat Halqa levels so that everyone gets a chance to take part in his or her favorite sports activities. It will boost interest among sports lovers and provide them a chance to spend winter in a very comfortable way. Otherwise, winters make people sick and lazy.
Sports as a profession?
Sports activities provide employment for millions of people in our country who are linked with it, from manufacturing industries to great personalities. Sports activities provide us a great chance to adopt it as a profession, like players who can present the country at the international level, coaches, etc.
Sports provide us a chance to be fit and healthy: sports activities are the best and have great scope in our physical fitness. Sports make us energetic and provide us the great chance to fight with different health issues.
Be healthy, be fit, and embrace sports activities.
What sports allow us to learn?
Sports activities bestow upon us good company; people who are good at discipline teach us, and we accumulate great and positive things from sports activities.
(The author can be reached at [email protected])
