Jammu, Mar 17: The implementation of J&K’s own Sports Policy 2022 has been the greatest thing to happen in the sports history of Jammu and Kashmir as the policy apart from having the provision of government jobs, also provides outstanding sportspersons with a healthy cash assistance and other incentives to help them shape their sporting careers.
This was stated by Shreya Gupta, J&K’s ace International fencer while addressing certain media agencies here on Monday.
Shreya, who was presented with a cash award of Rs 1,00,000 by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on the other day for her outstanding contribution in the field of fencing said that the Government of Jammu and Kashmir was committed to promote sports in every nook and corner of the Union Territory, adding that the sports sector has observed a sea change as the professionalism and transparency is a buzzword, helping young sportspersons blossom at the national and international scene.
Recalling her journey from Taekwondo to Fencing, young Shreya, who is currently a Junior and Senior National Champion said that after starting the sporting career with Taekwondo and learning basics from Atul Pangotra Sir, I as a young kid used to watch my brother and other young fencers training like warriors and got motivated and inspired to shift to the sport of Fencing, where I learnt basics from Ujjwal Gupta Sir, got advanced training from Shotu Lal Sir, Rashid Sir and Vikram Sir and did not look back.
The State, Sher-e-Kashmir and S Rangil Singh Awardee, till now has the honour of winning 3 international medals, with two in Commonwealth and one in Asian Games, besides 18 national Gold medals, 5 Silver and 7 Bronze.
Giving credit to Sh Manoj Sinha led UT Administration and Ms Nuzhat Gul led J&K Sports Council, young Shreya said that the infrastructural and other allied facilities provided by the Government to the sportspersons helps them to do better at the higher levels and even at the highest level.
In a message to the budding sportspersons, Junior, Senior Nationals and Khelo India Youth Games Champion said that hardwork is the only mantra to succeed in any field, not to talk of the sports or educational field only.
“If you aim high and work hard to achieve the same, you will surely make it, because hard work is the only mantra to succeed in life. Young sportspersons need to focus on their goals and work hard to achieve the same,” said Shreya.
While emphasising on the gender equality, Shreya said the mindset of the parents about sending their female wards to academies and other training centres, needed to be changed, adding that in the present era women are at par with men in every field.
“Women show excellence in every field and are at par with men. In our fencing, we have just one Olympian in India and that too is a woman. She is Bhawani Devi,” Shreya maintained.
Three time Olympic Sabre champion Aron Szilagyi is Sherya’s favorite fencer, while the cricketing icon, MS Dhoni is her favourite sportsperson.
“Watching MS Dhoni in the cricketing field I have learnt a lot of things, especially how to hold nerves in the crunch situations and how to remain calm in any kind of situation. I neither get delighted by the win nor get frustrated by the loss,” added Shreya.
