Terming fencers and their escorts from across the nation as the peace ambassadors, Secretary Youth Services and Sports (YSS), Sarmad Hafeez, said that the sportspersons are the messengers of love, brotherhood and harmony.
Sarmad Hafeez said this after inaugurating 67th National School Games in the discipline of Fencing U-19 boys and girls in an impressive, colourful and well attended function at Gymnasium Hall, University of Jammu here.
While extending thanks to School Games Federation of India for sanctioning four Nationals to J&K this year, Sarmad Hafeez said that the Government of J&K was committed to promote sports and possess all that was required to host mega sporting events in a most befitting manner.
He said, the performance of J&K athletes at the National scene and the Indian athletes at the International arena portraited the picture of enhancement in sports infrastructural facilities and excellence in coaching standards.
Secretary YSS said that this event is part of the series of National School Games that J&K has been hosting and till now four national level competitions in sports disciplines of Football, Volleyball, Judo and Fencing have been organised during the current year. This has also immensely helped in sending out a message of changing J&K.
Sarmad Hafeez further said that last year 60 lakh youth from across J&K took part in various sports activities and this year the target is comparatively much more. He added that mega events like this apart from helping youth to showcase their sporting skills, also help them to exchange their culture and language.
Earlier, in his welcome address, Director Youth Services and Sports, Subash Chibber highlighted the achievements of the Department.While encouraging the participants, Chibber said winning and losing is the part of the game but participation itself is an achievement. He assured the participating contingents of all facilities and comfortable stay.
Meanwhile, J&K U-19 boys won sabre team gold on day-1 today. The gold medal winners included Harshit Kohli, Anubhav Sharma, Vatsal Gandhotra and Amish Sharma. The silver medal in this category went to Haryana and the bronze was bagged by Punjab and Gujarat.
In U-19 girls epee, Maharashtra clinched the the gold and the winners included Gargee Nitin Dongare, Arpita, Mahendra Kate, Mahi Kishore Aradwad and Vinaya Balukrushna Jadhao. The silver medal in this event went to CBSE Welfare Sports Organisation and the bronze by IBSSO and Kerala.
The medal winners were felicitated by Neelam Khajuria, Additional Secretary YS & Sports and Misbah Arjumand, Under Secretary Youth Services and Sports in presence of a galaxy of officers and officials.