Jammu, Nov 30: Showing extraordinary soccer skills and dominating the game from the word go by displaying coordination, cohesiveness and elegance, besides anticipation, motor-ability and sharp reflexes, the young footballers of Arunachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Gujarat, Maharastra and Meghalaya began their respective campaigns in style, getting the better of their rivals in the prestigious 68th National School Games U-17 Boys Football Championship, which got underway at Sainik School Nagrota and Khel Gaon Nagrota, near here on Saturday.
This Football extravaganza in which 760 players and officials drawn from 38 teams from across the country are taking part, was formally declared open by Director General Youth Services and Sports, Sh Rajinder Singh Tara in an impressive, colourful and well attended function at Sainik School Nagrota.
On the occasion, the chief guest, Director General Youth Services and Sports J&K, was accompanied by Captain (IN) Shibu Devasia, Principal Sainik School Nagrota as the guest of honour, Lt Col Amit Sehlot, Vice Principal and Sqn Ldr Praveen Kumar, Administrative Officer Sainik School Nagrota as the special guests.
Ved Prakash, Joint Director Youth Services and Sports Jammu; Sh Jitendra Mishra, Deputy Director Youth Services and Sports Central; Sh Ravi Kumar Sharma, Deputy Director (Planning) Directorate YSS; Sh Sunil Kumar Sharma, Accounts Officer Directorate of Youth Services and Sports and a galaxy of District Youth Services and Sports Officers of the Department were present on the occasion.
The programme began with the National Anthem followed by presentations of bouquets, lighting of the ceremonial lamp and introduction with the players of visiting continents.
Speaking on the occasion, Tara while welcoming and extending thanks to the young footballers and officials from across the country advised them to show the sporting spirit and preserve the sanctity of sports and games during the Championship.
Terming the sportspersons as the messengers of peace and harmony, Tara said such events apart from providing ample opportunity to youth to showcase their sporting skills, help them not to fall prey to drugs and other social evils, so not to derail from the mainstream, besides providing them an opportunity to interact with their counterparts from the other States and exchange culture, develop camaraderie and friendship.
He stressed upon the important role of the Department of Youth Services and Sports J&K in nurturing the sports talent and instilling values of leadership, discipline, resilience and perseverance.
Tara expressed his hope that all participants would cherish their time in Jammu and Kashmir and carry home lasting memories from the tournament.
Highlighting the magnitude of the event, Tara informed that over 4,000 participants competed across various disciplines during the games, emphasizing J&K’s commitment towards nurturing budding athletes and promoting sports in every nook and corner of the Union Territory.
The DG Sports said the event portrays a picture of unity in diversity, adding India is an example of unity in diversity because its people live together in harmony despite their many differences in religion, culture and languages.
He extended thanks to the authorities of Sainik School Nagrota for providing the organisers ground facilities to hold this mega event in a most befitting manner.
The DG Sports assured the visiting contingents of providing all the requisite facilities during the Championship.
Later-on Joint Director Youth Services and Sports, Ved Prakash presented the vote of thanks and highlighted the activities and achievements of the department.
Meanwhile, in the inaugural match of the Championship, hosts Jammu and Kashmir lost to formidable Arunachal Pradesh in a tough contest by a solitary goal. Ojin of Arunachal Pradesh pelted the goal in the 15th minute of the match.
In the other matches played in the first session of the day, Uttarakhand defeated Vidya Bharathi by three goals to nil (3-0), Gujarat blanked Telangana by four goals to nil (4-0), Maharashtra trounced CBSE WSO by two goals to nil (2-0), Meghalaya prevailed over NVS by four goals to nil (4-0) and CBSE held Delhi to 1-1 draw.
