Sports must be kept away from politics: Lt Governor

Jammu, Jan 17: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday inaugurated the two-day ‘National Level Sports Conference – SRIJAN’, organised by Department of Youth Services and Sports at Jammu.
The Conference will identify the actionable strategies to further strengthen sports systems in J&K UT, prepare a roadmap for effective implementation of the National Sports Policy 2025 & J&K Sports Policy 2022 and highlight measures for shaping a resilient and future-ready generation.
In his address, the Lieutenant Governor called for linking Sports with education and essential life skills. He said, with integration in education curriculum, sports can become a powerful tool for the complete and holistic development of youth.
“Sports is a powerful force that shapes individuals, brings communities together, and plays a vital role in nation-building.
For youth, sports serve as a real-life school which teaches discipline, values, and leadership through lived experience. It is a strong medium for empowerment, social awareness, and the overall progress of the society,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
The Lieutenant Governor emphasised that sports should be kept away from politics. He observed that sporting talent can only be nurtured in a peaceful environment. In order to make India a true sporting powerhouse, we must keep sports and politics strictly separate.
The Lieutenant Governor said that the Politics should not interfere in sports and the talented youth should not be deprived of the opportunities they deserve.
“We must move forward and create a system where there is no room for doubt on the selection process,” he said.
He also reiterated the administration’s resolve to extend requisite support to the sportspersons and developing state-of-the-art sports infrastructure at grassroots level.
The Lieutenant Governor emphasised on giving special focus and strong encouragement to the participation of women and youth in sports and working towards removing the major barriers that hold them back.
He said the policymakers and industry leaders should create avenues of opportunity through sports.
“Investing in sports means investing in disciplined citizens and a confident future to shape the destiny of the country.
To truly build a sports culture, we must bring sports into the heart of daily community living and connect sports with education and life skills,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
The Lieutenant Governor commended the Department of Youth Services and Sports, J&K for its unique endeavour aimed at advancing the national sports agenda through sharing of best practices in governance, participation, athlete development and performance excellence.
He urged sports councils, federations, administrators and officials to chalk-out a strategic development plan specifically designed to elevate performance in international competitions.
Atal Dulloo, Chief Secretary; Yasha Mudgal, Commissioner/Secretary to Government, Youth Services and Sports; Padma Shri Dr Karnam Malleswari (Olympian) Vice Chancellor, Delhi Sports University; Ramesh Kumar; Divisional Commissioner Jammu; Anuradha Gupta, Director General Youth Services and Sports, senior officials, representatives of Sports Authority of India; eminent sports personalities; sports-experts and youth in large number attended the inaugural ceremony.