Director General, Sports, Jahangir Mir today released Annual Sports Calendar (ASC) for 2016-17.Revealing the parameters of the calendar, the DG said that in all 49 sports disciplines, 8 new games viz Jeet Kune Do, Rope Skipping, Boxing, Gymnastic, Throw Ball, Base Ball, Yoga and Jump Rope have been incorporated during this season. He said that the calendar has been formulated on inter-divisional basis to address the loopholes witnessed during current year’s calendar.The Director General informed that 18 more traditional games have been introduced in ASC as optional part of the calendar which will be decided by the respective District Youth Services and Sports Officers according to their local requirement and taste of the youth. These 18 new games include Hapkido, Karte, Silambam, Spectra, Tong Il Moo-Do, Tenni Koit, Dodge Ball, Tennis Volleyball, Kurash, Choi Kwang Do, Field Archery, Cycling, Tug of War, Mastsogi Do, Belt Wrestling, Rugby, Gold Tournament, Nath competition, Talent Hunt and Dance competition.
Mir asked District Youth Services and Sports Officers to strictly ensure that the local and traditional sports activities are given due space at school level. He emphasized for revival of Mass Drill in schools and directed physical education teachers to conduct Mass Drill in their respective schools and institutions during the prayer time every day.“Apart from sports activities, special attention shall be given for imparting moral education in the schools on weekly basis”, the DG said, adding that concerned field staff have already been asked for. He said that field staff of the department has been given directives to organize awareness camps in schools against the drug addiction involving local prominent citizens, panchayat representatives and local Immas.The Director General urged upon the officers to work strictly according to the calendar and make sure that district, zonal, state and national level games will happen on targeted time. He asked them to attract more and more students towards the sports activities as the games are not only good for physical and mental health of the students but also for career growth.
The DG said that special attention will be given for off season games during December to February in which Football, Cricket, Marathon, run for Fun, Seerat Conferences, Modeling and Skiing at Gulmarg and Patnitop will be held for both school as well as drop out students. Mr. Jahangir said that the ASC calendar also include holding of mega youth festival at specified places in 4 districts of the state.Referring the current year’s activities, the DG felicitated the officers for successfully conducting national level events in the state in which 2.50 lakh students participated. He said the talented students of our state participated in 36 national level games in different states of the country and won 38 golden, bronze and silver medals. “the medal winner students will be soon felicitated in their respective districts by the department”. he added.Among others, Joint Directors of YSS, Deputy Directors and District Youth Services and Sports Officers of the State attended the meeting.