Jammu, Nov 16: Sports is the best medium to build camaraderie, brotherhood, character and team spirit, besides helping youth not to fall prey to social evils, so not to derail from the mainstream. And the events Iike the National School Games apart from providing youth a platform to hone their sporting skill infuse togetherness, cohesiveness and belongingness among them. Such events also provide them a platform to exchange culture and learn new languages.
This was stated by Subash Chander Chibber, Director Youth Services and Sports J&K while formally inaugurating the 67th National School Games in the discipline of Judo U-14 boys and girls in an impressive, colourful and well attended function at Gymnasium Hall, University of Jammu here on Thursday.
Director Youth Services and Sports was the chief guest on the occasion, while Prof Daud Iqbal Baba, Director Sports University of Jammu; Jitender Mishra, Deputy Director Youth Services and Sports (C), Kanhiya Gurjar, Field Officer of these Games and Rajeev Sharma, Member Sports Council were the guests of honour.
Earlier, after the presentation of the National Anthem, hoisting of SGFI, DYSS Flags and lighting of the ceremonial lamp by the chief guest and other dignitaries, Jitender Mishra presented the welcome address and gave brief detail of the event.
Terming the sportspersons as the messengers of peace, prosperity and harmony, Chibber said that sports and games serve for delight, for ornament and for agility, adding that the participants in this mega event will serve as the ambassadors for the Union Territory of J&K.
The Director Youth Services and Sports had a special praise for School Games Federation of India for granting J&K permission of hosting National School Games in four sports disciplines.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof Daud Iqbal lavished praise on the organisers for holding this sports extravaganza in a most befitting manner.
He said it took dynamism and energy to host big events like National School Games.
Prominent among others present on the occasion were Sh Sunil Kumar Sharma, Accounts Officer Directorate of YS & Sports, Sh Shivnandan Singh Mankotia, Section Officer of Directorate and Conveners of various committees.
It is pertinent to mention here that a total of 387 Judokas are taking part in this mega event, including 197 boys and 190 girls, besides around 80 officials.
These Games are being organised by the Directorate of YS & Sports J&K, under the auspices of the School Games Federation of India (SGFI).
Meanwhile, Manya Kandhari of J&K was one among the medal winners on day-1 of the competitions today. She bagged silver medal in Under-14 girls -23 kg weight category. Manya lost to Maharashtrian Judoka Rutuja Patil in the final, who claimed gold, while the bronze medal in this category went to Priya of Haryana and Haristhuthi CP of Kerala.
In Under-14 girls -27 kg, Ranjana Kanappa of Karnataka clinched gold and Sheela Nandini of Andhra Pradesh bagged silver, while the bronze medals in this category went to Taviya Sandhya of Gujarat and Rupali of Rajasthan.
In Under-14 boys -25 kg category, Piyush of Punjab won gold, while Adhi of Haryana claimed silver. The bronze medal in this category went to Krish Chouhan of Himachal Pradesh and Sujay Dolui of West Bengal.
In Under-14 boys -30 kg category, Darshan Priyan S of Tamil Nadu bagged gold and Dinesh Gurjar of Rajasthan clinched silver, while the bronze medal in this category was claimed by Arupam Chakma of Tripura and Amandeep of Punjab.
Later-on, all the medal winners were honoured by the organisers with the medals in the presentation ceremony.
Sanjiv Gadkar (IAS), Chief Executive Officer State Health Agency Ayushman Bharat PMJAY was the chief guest on the occasion, who presented medals to the winners.
The chief guest was accompanied by Kanhiya Gurjar, Jitender Mishra and Shivnandan Singh on the occasion.
