Srinagar, Aug 10: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday called a renewed push to strengthen sports infrastructure, training and financial support for athletes as he honoured 580 outstanding sportspersons with cash awards amounting to Rs 2.71 crore.
Addressing a Special Cash Award Ceremony organised by the J&K Sports Council at SKICC Srinagar here, CM Omar, said the government wants to create an environment where athletes can translate their hard work and talent into success at national and international competitions.
“I want to congratulate all the awardees from the bottom of my heart. This is the result of your hard work,” he said.
The awards, pertaining to the years 2023-24 and 2024-25, were presented to 580 sportspersons and international athletes. The Chief Minister personally handed over awards to 22 sportspersons, while the remaining beneficiaries received the amount through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
CM Omar said the government would make efforts to ensure that athletes do not face financial pressure for coaching, training, equipment and travel, stressing that such expenses should not become a burden on their parents and families.
“The player should not have any tension about the investment being made in coaching, travel or other expenses. The pressure should not fall on their families or parents,” he said.
The Chief Minister said athletes can achieve their true potential when provided with the right facilities and assured the sportspersons that the government would extend all possible support.
“The right fruits of your hard work will come when you get the right facilities. We are quite behind in this regard and need to improve going forward,” he said.
Omar said the government had studied models of states and regions that have produced international-level athletes and would work towards strengthening sports infrastructure in J&K.
The Chief Minister called for improved facilities at the grassroots level, including synthetic tracks, quality playing surfaces, indoor facilities and training infrastructure, particularly in mountainous and winter areas where adverse weather restricts outdoor training.
He further stressed the need to make greater use of J&K’s high-altitude areas for specialised training. “We have to utilise our high altitude to promote high-quality sports,” he said.
The Chief Minister called for greater attention to both established and emerging sporting disciplines, saying J&K has considerable talent beyond conventional sports.
Referring to the overwhelming focus on cricket, CM Omar said other disciplines also require greater attention and investment.
“Unfortunately, when we talk about sports, perhaps more than 80% of the attention goes towards cricket. Most of the money is also in cricket, followed by football and then other sports,” he said.
He said India’s ambitions at major international sporting events require athletes to be encouraged across different disciplines, while welcoming growing corporate participation in sports, particularly in coaching and athlete development.
Referring to emerging disciplines such as BMX, skateboarding and gymnastics, CM Omar said the achievements of J&K sportspersons have demonstrated the potential among young athletes.
“Our children have potential. These awards have shown that. They have an interest in these sports and we have to encourage them,” he said.
He also pointed to the need for better basic training facilities, saying athletes in J&K often compete with sportspersons who have access to advanced infrastructure and year-round training.
“I can count the synthetic tracks on the fingers of one hand. I can see four. When we cannot provide our athletes with synthetic tracks, what medals can we expect from them?” the Chief Minister asked.
“Your competition is with those who are practising for 12 months of the year,” he added.
Linking sports promotion with the government’s anti-drug campaign, Omar said sustained engagement of young people through sports is essential to keeping them away from drugs.
“Staying away from drugs cannot be a slogan for just one day in the year. It has to be for 12 months in a year, and that will happen only when we provide infrastructure for sports,” he said.
Omar said sports activities and competitions being promoted through schools and other institutions should be expanded to more areas, with greater participation of children and youth.
On the occasion, CM Omar felicitated J&K MMA fighter Owais Yaqoob for his remarkable victory at BRAVE CF 107 in Bulgaria, where he defeated an unbeaten two-time IMMAF World Champion.
He also launched an anti-drugs and anti-doping campaign by handing over a campaign torch to a sports icon from Jammu and Kashmir. The torch will travel through schools and different areas of Srinagar as part of the awareness campaign.
The Chief Minister said sports icons would play an important role in spreading awareness against drug abuse and doping while promoting clean and fair competition.
He also said the sportspersons receiving cash awards should remain connected with sports and inspire the next generation of athletes.
Minister for Sports Satish Sharma, Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, MLA Hazratbal Salman Ali Sagar, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister, Commissioner Secretary, Youth Services & Sports, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Secretary Sports Council, sports icons, sportspersons, athletes, coaches, awardees and their parents were present on the occasion. (KNO)
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