Investments in sports infrastructure have enhanced popularity of sport across J&K: LG Manoj Sinha

Srinagar, Jun 11: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday attended the closing ceremony of the ALFA HOCKEY Inter-School Tournament-2026 at Synthetic Hockey Astro Turf, Polo Ground Srinagar.

The tournament, as per an official statement, brought together participants from 32 schools across various districts, including Kupwara, Bandipora, Kulgam and Shopian.

In his address, the Lieutenant Governor congratulated all the winners and participants for their remarkable display of skills and talent during the tournament.

He appreciated the collaborative efforts of J&K Sports Council, Badal Hockey Club and Hockey Jammu & Kashmir for providing a powerful platform, celebrating the spirit and passion of young athletes across the region.

“This tournament aimed for something beyond the scoreboard. It provided a transformative stage for our talented children to realise their true athletic potential,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

The Lieutenant Governor highlighted that over the last few years, Jammu Kashmir has witnessed a remarkable transformation in hockey.

He stated that the investments in sports infrastructure, grassroots competitions and community engagement have successfully enhanced the popularity of the sport across the Union Territory.

“It is our aim to see more schools and more young players take up hockey in the coming years and establish Jammu Kashmir as a cradle for world-class hockey talent.

We are building talent pipeline in Jammu Kashmir that will ensure a player’s journey from the school level to the regional level, and national stage.

In recent years, synthetic hockey turfs at Polo View Srinagar, Pulwama and Poonch have opened up new avenues for aspiring players from cities, border districts and remote areas.

State-of-the-art synthetic hockey turfs are currently under construction at BandhuRakh and K.K. Hakku Stadium in Jammu. These projects will significantly expand the capacity for advanced training, specialised coaching camps, and rigorous talent identification programmes, establishing a sustainable foundation for future national players,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

The Lieutenant Governor reiterated that it is our constant endeavour to provide opportunities and resources for the young talent, enabling them to move forward and contribute to building a Viksit Bharat.

“From the Ranji Trophy Championship to the ‘NashaMukt J&K’ campaigns, the exceptional dedication of our youth has already been proven across various arenas. I am proud of their spirit, and I want our youth’s contribution to nation-building to be second to none,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

Prof Mohammad Mobin, Vice Chancellor Cluster University Srinagar, Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, Commissioner Secretary, Youth Services and Sports, Rajiv Omprakashn DIG CKR; Dr GV SundeepChakravarthy, SSP Srinagar, AkshayLabroo, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, NuzhatGul, Secretary J&K Sports Council, S. Harmeet Singh Sasan, President and other members of Badal Hockey Club, senior officials, eminent sports personalities, coaches, students and teachers from various schools were present.