A three day sports festival 'Harud' organised jointly by the J&K Sports Council and team Seven Stars under the 'My Youth My Pride' programme commenced today at the Indoor Hall of Nilandrusu, Bijbehara in South Kashmir.
The event witnessed massive participation of athletes and officials besides officers from various government departments on day one.The festival was inaugurated by Dr Basharat Qayoom, District Development Commissioner (DDC) Anantnag.
He presided over the inaugural function as chief guest while Bashir Ahmad Bhat Joint Secretary J&K Sports Council was the guest of honour on the occasion.Officers and officials from the Education, Revenue, Sports Council and other government departments attended the event.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Basharat applauded the role of organisers and said that sports is means to inculcate discipline and values in our youth which is in addition to the health benefits that it encompasses. Sports is the key to prudent society, the chief guest added while concluding.
Meanwhile, Bashir Ahmad Bhat addressing the massive gathering which also included more than five hundred participants on day one said that this year Sports Council collaborated with many organisations to extend the reach of its special sports initiative My Youth My Pride and the department is open to any such collaboration in future as well.
He said that initiatives like these help in unearthing budding stars to realise their potential and thus far results have been very encouraging. Secretary J&K Sports Council, Nuzhat Gull while addressing the gathering over phone said that the impressive thing about My Youth My Pride programme is that it massively involved other government functionaries in the endeavour and therefore the programme has not remained confined to Sports Council but has involved all other departments in the endeavour.
Assuring the team Seven Star of all possible support, Nuzhat Gull said that the Sports Council is aiming at holistic growth and development of all athletes.Sports competitions for both boys and girls in the games of Netball, Volleyball, Badminton, and other games were held today. The festival shall conclude on the 18th of this month.