Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, today visited the Polo Ground Sports Complex Srinagar, J&K Sports Council. Secretary, Youth Services and Sports, Sarmad Hafeez, Director YSS, SC Chibber and Secretary, J&K Sports Council, Nuzhat Gull besides other senior officers were present on the occasion.
Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, afterwards, visited the Synthetic Turf, where he interacted with players from the U17 Indian National Team, J&K Sports Council Football School and Academy trainees, Downtown Heroes Football Club Boys and Girls teams besides other school children.
The Union Minister appreciated the launch of Blue Cubs Initiative by the All India Football Federation, awarded to JKSC, aimed at enhancing grassroots football.He also flagged off a bicycle rally, in which athletes from Khelo India Center Cycling, Budgam, participated.
Later, the Union Minister visited the Indoor Sports Complex, where hundreds of excited athletes and school children were present.The Union Minister, while participating in a cultural bonanza presented on the occasion, lauded the local Kashmiri and Dogri Folk dances besides impressive demonstrations by Gymnastics and Pencak Silat athletes.
Dr Mansukh Mandaviya also inaugurated the "My Youth My Pride" Summer Activities Calendar 2024 and distributed sports kits among various Khelo India Centres.He noted that J&K is rapidly becoming a sports hub and praised the J&K Sports Council for hosting National Team camps in Kashmir. He assured that the Government of India will fully support development of the sports ecosystem in J&K.