The Deputy Commissioner (DC) Bandipora, Dr Owais Ahmad on Tuesday kick started the District Rugby Championship at SK Stadium Bandipora as part of Azadi ka Amrut Mahotsav and activities run upto Independence Day Celebrations, 2021.The championship is being organized by Bandipora Rugby Association under the aegis of J&K Sports Council.The two days long championship will be from 10-11 August and more than 22 teams in Boys and Girls, Men and Women categories are participating in the championship.District Manager Bandipora, Abdul Majid and other senior officers were present on the occasion. Dr Owais while interacting with the players expressed satisfaction about the Youth of Bandipora excelling in sports and said that the youth have showcased their talent in several UT, national and even international platforms.He said the youth have potential and talent and there is a need to expose and polish this talent. He also said that events like these championships help the local talent to get exposure so that their talent can be polished to make them available for international and national platforms. He said Bandipora is becoming more familiar because of sports and efforts made by Ali's sports academy which are acknowledged by district and (UT) administration. Dr. Owais Ahmed said Rugby is a unique and popular sport and assured of every support to promote rugby in Bandipora.Dr Owais advised players to adopt a healthy lifestyle and stay away from the menace of drug abuse and asked participants to take active part in sports as it helps in the personality development besides enhancing the decision making capability of an individual.