Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti today declared open the 27th Senior National Tennis Ball Cricket championship which is being played here. Around 20 states and teams are participating in the tournament and the inaugural match was played between the host J&K and Tamil Nadu teams.Addressing the gathering on the occasion, the Chief Minister said she was happy to notice that sporting enthusiasm is getting back into the youth and they are participating actively in sporting events at national and international levels. “Be it Parvez Rasool or Meenal Gupta, Tajamul Islam or Pawan Mahajan, these young boys and girls have made the entire state proud with their performance”, the Chief Minister said.Mehbooba Mufti assured the youth that her Government has projected sports activities and youth development as priority areas and efforts would be made to create much more advanced infrastructure and facilities for sports in the State.
She complimented the organisers for hosting the tournament and hoped the guest players and teams would be enjoying their stay here.The Chief Minister, on the occasion, distributed cash rewards and certificates among the outstanding sportsperson of the State who have shown remarkable performance at national and international levels. She also unveiled the trophy for the tournament.In his address to the participants, Minister for Youth Services & Sports, Moulvi Imran Raza Ansari said his Department shall be encouraging outstanding talent in sports under the guidance of the Chief Minister. He thanked the Chief Minister for celebrating the sporting heroes of Jammu & Kashmir.MLA, Jammu East, Rajesh Gupta; Secretary, Youth Services & Sports, Hilal Parray; Director, Youth Services & Sports, Sheikh Fayaz Ahmad; Secretary, J&K Sports Council, Waheed ur Rehman Parra, representatives of various sporting bodies besides a large number of spectators were present on the occasion.