Prioritise development of sports infrastructure in rural areas ; Sajjad Shaheen 

Exhorts youth to play their role in eradicating drug menace;

BANIHAL,19 June: National Conference leader and district president Ramban Mr Sajjad Shaheen has called upon the youth to become agents of change and play their role in protecting the young population from falling prey to the grave evil of drug menace which is assuming frightening proportions in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. 

While addressing youth gatherings during the prize distribution ceremony of Final match of Super Entertainment Cricket Cup season-5 organised by Mr Nawaz Sharif, Manzoor Ahmed Sarpanch and Tanveer Ahmed held at Hirnihal, Khari in Banihal constituency, Shaheen said that “Given the severity of the drug menace and its impact on society, I think every one of us ought to play his/her role in eradicating this destructive evil”, he added.

Giving away the Winner and Runner Up trophies, the NC leader appreciated the players for their excellence in the game, saying there is no dearth of talent in Jammu and Kashmir but the need is to fine-tune their capabilities and make a mark in national and international sports events.

He said Jammu and Kashmir has already produced some ace cricketers who are making their mark in the national team as well as in the IPL. This is highly encouraging and rekindles hope about the best of the times in the field of cricket.

“Our youngsters are second to none and provided opportunities, coaching and avenues, the day is not far when they will shine in the cricket horizon of the country”, Shaheen said.

Shaheen appreciated the enthusiasm among the budding cricketers and said that over month long competitions will place them in good stead to face the competitive world with vigour and confidence. He wished success to the participants, saying though just one team made it to the top yet this should not be the end of the game. “In sports there is always another time”, he said and hoped that by emulating this spirit the players will do their best and play with commitment.

Sajjad Shaheen also complimented the organizers for holding the tournament, saying this will go a long way in providing larger canvass to the budding cricketers. He said holding such events is imperative for identifying talent, sharpening them and to provide them opportunities to perform, first at a limited scale and then in various tournaments at the local and the national level.

He said that the youth of district Ramban is blessed with lot of potential and talent which needs to be properly groomed so that they can compete at national and international level for which the stakeholders have to play a key role in not only identifying such talent but help in achieving the objective of overall development of youngsters and generate awareness among them about the need of sports in their development. He said that sports are not only imperative for mental and physical growth of the children but it opens up vistas of opportunities to them as far as career is concerned.

Sajjad Shaheen called upon the LG Administration to prioritise the need of raising sports infrastructure and various sports equipment in rural areas which will facilitate the participation and enhance the skills of sports persons from J&K.

Besides Party office secretary Abdul Gani Wani, Youth block president Khari Shabir Ahmed Naik, Mohd Hanief Naik, Tanveer Dar, Mohd Saleem Zohda were among the prominent persons who watched the finals of the Super Entertainment Cup Season -5 cricket Tournament at Hirnihal Khari.

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(NOTE: PRESS RELEASE PUBLISHED AS RECEIVED)