Udhampur, 17 March: The 23rd Sub-Junior UT Kabaddi Championship for Boys and Girls culminated in a thrilling finale at the Indoor Sports Complex, Subash Stadium Udhampur. Organised by the Udhampur District Kabaddi Association under the aegis of the Jammu and Kashmir Amateur Kabaddi Association and the J&K Sports Council, the tournament showcased outstanding talent and competitive spirit.
The final in the Boys’ section was a spectacular contest, drawing an enthusiastic crowd. Kuldeep Gupta, Technical Director of the Asian Kabaddi Federation, was the chief guest, presenting the championship trophy to the winners. Ashok Kumar Salhotra, former Director of Sports SMVD Katra and Senior Vice President of the School Games Federation of India, graced the event as guest of honour.
In his address, Ashok Kumar Salhotra praised the overwhelming response to the championship and the passion for kabaddi in Udhampur. He assured that the J&K Kabaddi Association would strive to bring more prestigious tournaments to the region, including potential Federation Cup matches, for which requests have already been submitted.
Intense Semifinals & Final Showdown
The competition witnessed exhilarating matches:
- 1st Semi-final: Baramulla edged past Budgam in a closely contested match, winning 53-47.
- 2nd Semi-final: Poonch outplayed Udhampur with a commanding 40-24 victory.
In the grand finale, Poonch dominated Baramulla, securing the championship title with a decisive 43-27 win.
Honouring the Winners & Contributors
The winning and runner-up teams were presented with trophies and medals by the chief guest and other distinguished personalities, including:
- Ashok Kumar (Patron-in-Chief, J&K Kabaddi Association)
- Sheikh Tanveer (President, Udhampur District Kabaddi Association)
- Abdul Rehman Paddar (Joint Secretary, J&K Kabaddi Association)
- Vikas Dogra (Manager, Subash Stadium)
- Vishal Bamotra
The championship was successfully conducted under the active guidance of Anil Gupta, President of J&K Amateur Kabaddi Association, and the special direction of Nuzhat Gul, Secretary, J&K Sports Council, who has been instrumental in promoting kabaddi across the Union Territory.
The organisers extended heartfelt thanks to the coaches, District Administration, Police Department, officials from the Department of Youth Services & Sports, and the media for their invaluable support in making the event a resounding success.
The championship concluded with the National Anthem, marking the end of yet another milestone event in J&K’s growing kabaddi culture.
