Grassroots Day celebrated in Bakshi Stadium, Srinagar

Secretary Sports Council tours downtown

SRINAGAR, MAY 16: The J&K Sports Council team led by Nuzhat Gull toured the iconic Badamwari garden in downtown early morning and interacted with a number of locals here today. The Secretary Sports Council was flanked by Waseem Raja, Additional Secretary YSS and Nuzhat Farooq Sports Officer Kashmir along with coaches and other officials.

Sharing details, Secretary Sports Council said that this initiative is a part of the community reach out program and today our team reached Badamwari and Kalai-andar areas to meet elders and sports enthusiasts.

She said the Sports Council team sensitized the locals about the rise in drug addiction cases and how sports can help to mitigate the effects of prevailing social issues. She said that these people come out early in the morning to maintain good health and they can act as ambassadors of fitness, sports awareness, and a link of the community’s approach towards various government initiatives. The Sports Council team made people aware about the government’s initiatives to involve the general public in sports under Jan-Baghidari-Abhiyaan, enabling a vibrant sports ecosystem in the union territory.

During her interaction, Secretary Sports Council sought feedback from the public regarding the role Sports Council can play for creating a vibrant sports ecosystem in downtown and elsewhere in J&K. Nuzhat Gull said that the Sports Council in its pursuit to encourage a healthy lifestyle shall follow with more such events in future. The move she said is also aimed at raising an awareness about the lifestyle diseases and the measures to keep such ailments at bay.

A group of women while on morning walk in the garden demanded for an open-air gymnasium in the area, to which the Secretary Sports Council responded in affirmative.

The J&K Sports Council Football Academy observed the Asian Football Federation (AFC) “Grassroot Day” in Bakshi Stadium. The day is celebrated throughout the Asia Subcontinent. The renowned J&K soccer star Ahmad Ishfaq along with more than 60 young participants attended the celebrations. Ishfaq while interacting with young players exchanged some useful tips with the prospective football stars of the J&K. He also advised the players to maintain the highest standards of discipline if they want to excel in sports, as ethics and sports go hand in hand, he added. Secretary Sports Council, Nuzhat Gull announced the opening of Grassroot Football School on the occasion and thanked all the kids for turning to the venue in large numbers. Nuzhat Gull also exhorted the kids to make the most out of the new sports policies and infrastructure laid across the J&K while appreciating the motivation and enthusiasm of the participants.

Meanwhile, a cricket match was also organized by J&K Sports Council for visually impaired cricketers in Bakshi Stadium Srinagar.

The match was played between North Kashmir XI and South Kashmir XI. After winning the toss, North Kashmir XI decided to bat first and scored 81 in their allotted quota of 10 overs. Chasing the total, South Kashmir XI scaled the total in just 7.3 overs backed by some splendid batting by both the openers.

Prior to match players from both the teams had an interaction with Altaf Ahmad, Deputy Manager Bakshi Stadium who also distributed the uniforms among both the teams.

The concluding ceremony of the match was attended by Nuzhat Farooq Sports Officer Kashmir who also distributed medals among both the teams.