District Development Commissioner Poonch, Rahul Yadav today decalred open the sports tournament under Khelo India Programme, the ‘Sports for Peace and Development, here at Sports Stadium.Over three months long sports event lasting till November 29, 2018 will witness separate competitions for boys and girls in Volleyball, Taekwondo, Boxing, Table Tennis, Kabaddi, Kho-Kho, Tug of War, Athletics and other sports.The DC handover the Khelo-India Flag at District Court Complex and it was carried out by BRICS Games Bronze medallist and volleyball Icon, Saqlain Tariq and Pawandeep Singh, Tug of War Gold Medallist, from Akhar Mandir to Naokhowaki chowk to Sports Stadium. The oath was administered to the players by budding Taekwondo player Rizwan Sheikh.SSP Poonch, Rajiv Pandey, ADC Poonch, Dr Basharat Hussain, DYSO Narjit Singh, ZPEOS, Coaches, players and other senior officers of District Administration were also present on the occasion.In his address, Yadav stressed upon the importance of sports for a healthy life. He remarked that sports should be given equal importance alongside studies.Meanwhile, the Matches of Taekwondo, Boxing, Hockey and Table tennis were played in the Opening ceremony.The Khelo India Programme will be organized in different erstwhile Blocks of District Poonch covering Poonch, Mandi, Surankote, Baffliaz, Mendhar and Balakote areas.