Rehan Qayoom Mir
Srinagar, Mar 12: Over 61 lakh youth from Jammu and Kashmir participated in sports activities in one year, reveals the official document.
It states that the administration is spearheading the development of world-class sports infrastructure, including playfields, stadiums, and indoor sports halls at the Panchayat level to ensure accessibility.
The Jammu and Kashmir Sports Policy 2022, according to the document, has strengthened institutional support, offering coaching and financial aid to promising athletes.
It also reveals that 100 Khelo India centers have been sanctioned across J&K, with 92 already functional. These centers are playing a key role in nurturing young talent and promoting a sports culture across the region.
The document, states that athletes from Jammu and Kashmir have achieved remarkable success in national and international events. In the year 2023-24, the athletes bagged 549 national medals (169 gold, 170 silver, 210 bronze) and 16 international medals (8 gold, 4 silver, 4 bronze). In, 2024-25 national medals tally stood at: 639 (239 gold, 150 silver, 250 bronze) and 15 international medals (3 gold, 2 silver, 10 bronze.
The document also states that J&K hosted 15 national events across 13 sports disciplines in 2023-24, with 12 national events already conducted by November 2024-25.
It also reveals that the Khelo India Winter Games have led to Gulmarg emerging as the country’s winter sports capital. The 4th edition (Feb 21-25, 2024) saw J&K secure 1 gold, 6 silver, and 4 bronze medals.
To institutionalize sports learning, the government, the document states, has set up academies for cricket, football, volleyball, wushu, hockey, gymnastics, water sports, judo, and table tennis.
The Gymnastics Academy at MA Stadium, Jammu, with international-standard facilities, is fully operational, while another center at Gindun Stadium, Srinagar, is under construction and set for completion this financial year,” the document reveals further.
The document states that the government plans to expand sports inclusivity by introducing initiatives for senior citizens, housewives, transgender individuals, and specially-abled athletes. It also aims to establish high-performance centers and promote research in traditional games.
