Great to see athletes taking part in sports after covid fear: Chibber
JAMMU: Director Youth Services and Sports, Subash Chander Chibber on Thursday flagged off a 108-member contingent to Bhopal to participate in the National School Games here at an impressive, colourful and well attended function held in Youth Hostel Nagrota .
The contingent comprising the athletes from four sports disciplines is proceeding for Bhopal to participate in 66th National School Games, being held under the aegis of School Games Federation of India (SGFI).
The Director Sports, who was the Chief Guest on the occasion, was accompanied by Deputy Director Central, Jitender Mishra and a galaxy of dignitaries..
A total of 90 athletes (under-19 boys and girls) and 18 officials across Jammu and Kashmir are taking part in four sports disciplines in this mega sporting event to be held at Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh from June 10, 2023 to June 13, 2023.
The sporting disciplines include Football, Volleyball, Judo and Table Tennis.
Two Football teams comprises 36 players, while two Volleyball teams comprise of 24 players and two Judo teams include 20 players and 10 players will take part in Table Tennis.
While speaking on the occasion, Subash Chander Chibber said that it was great to see athletes participating in the sporting events at the national level after a gap of three years, adding that covid restrictions across the country had forced the organisers not to organise competitions for all these years.
He hoped that the J & K contingent would do well in all the sports disciplines. Chibber advised the young sportspersons to give their best and keep the UT’s flag high at the national scene.
The Director Sports said that these sportspersons serve as ambassadors of the Union Territory.
While advising the players to preserve sporting spirit and sanctity of the game, Chibber said that sports and games, apart from helping youth to showcase their sporting skill, also help them not to fall prey to drugs and other allied social evils and not to derail from the mainstream.
He further said that the Government of Jammu and Kashmir was committed to promote sports in every nook and corner of the Union Territory.
Earlier, in his welcome address, the Deputy Director Youth Services and Sports, Jitender Mishra gave the details of the contingent and highlighted the achievements of the Department.