The District Sports Stadium in Kathua buzzed with excitement as the Inter-Zone District Level Tournament for U14 and U17 boys and girls commenced today. The event was inaugurated by the Deputy Commissioner, Dr. Rakesh Minhas, who officially declared the tournament open.
While interacting with young athletes, Dr. Minhas emphasized the importance of sports in maintaining good health and a sound mind besides inculcating the spirit of team effort and sportsmanship. He encouraged the participants to stay hydrated and give their best. He said the administration has made adequate arrangements for drinking water, refreshment and medical aid facilities on the venue.
Chief Education Officer, Kishore Kumar, who was the guest of honor along with Zonal Physical Education Officers, field staff, Activity In-Charge Dharminder Singh Shelly and Parveen Singh, besides the staff of the DYSSO office Kathua were also present. District Youth Services and Sports Officer Sunil Singh Sambyal, provided an overview of the tournament’s progression, detailing the journey from school-level competitions to the current inter-zone district level.
He highlighted the meticulous planning and coordination that went into organizing the event. The tournament is being conducted under the patronage of Director Youth Services and Sports, Subash Chander Chhiber, with guidance from Joint Director Youth Services and Sports Jammu, Ved Parkash, and under the supervision of DYSSO Kathua, Sunil Singh Sambyal.
Today's competitions for U17 boys included Kabaddi, Kho-Kho, Football, Volleyball, Chess, Wrestling, Badminton, Rope Skipping, Table Tennis, and Cricket. These events took place at various venues including Sports Stadium Kathua, Sports Stadium Hiranagar, and Higher Secondary School Boys Kathua.
In Kabaddi, Zone Kathua defeated Zone Marheen by 3 points. In Volleyball, Zone Sallan won against Zone Marheen with a score of 2-1 sets. In Table Tennis, Zone Marheen emerged victorious over Zone Kathua with a 2-1 win, while in Kho-Kho, Zone Sallan claimed victory.