Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Nirmal Singh today said that the sports are an effective medium to channelize the energy of youth besides imbibing the concept of camaraderie in them.The Deputy Chief Minister was speaking at the concluding function of the Cricket Tournament organised by All India Kashmiri Samaj (AIKS) in collaboration with Jammu and Kashmir Police (JKP) at Science College Cricket Ground here today.VC Central University Jammu, Dr Ashok Aima, Chief Vigilance Commissioner, Mr Kuldeep Khuda, Ex-MLC Mr. Vijay Bakaya, IG Jammu Mr. Danish Rana, Corporate Executive Mr. Raj Nehru and senior members of Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association, sports persons were also present on the occasion.The Deputy Chief Minister said that the sports have an important role in ensuring the holistic development of the personality of youth and we should all play our part in promoting and propagating these. He said that the state government has also embarked upon a policy of ensuring that the sports arena and the activities get a flip and in this regard several schemes have been undertaken for ensuring augmentation, and renovation of the existing sports infra.
Dr. Singh said that the Centre has also been quiet liberal in providing an amount of Rs. 200 crore for the sports sector which would further catalyze the sports activities in the state. He said that sports stadia would be renovated and new playgrounds would be constructed across the state.While complementing the organizers for holding these types of tournaments, the Deputy Chief Minister said that they serve as an important factor in ensuring that the teams from different states of the country get an opportunity of playing with each other and also getting in opportunity of interacting. He said that these events should be encouraged so that the Kashmiri Youth living in different states of the country get an opportunity of interacting with each other besides also getting to know about the veterans and greats of the game who have played a pivotal role in propagating the Cricket culture in the State. The Deputy Chief Minister later gave away achievement awards to the cricketers, administrators and promoters who have played an important role in ensuring that the sports get its proper space.The tournament was won by Wachuppa Cricket Club from Chandigarh.