LG felicitates medal winners, inaugurates sports infrastructure in Jammu

In a significant move to recognize the exemplary performances of athletes, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha felicitated the medal winners of National and International Competitions for the years 2021-22 and 2022-23. A total of 368 sportspersons across 17 disciplines were honored with special cash awards amounting to Rs 1.35 crore, directly disbursed into their bank accounts through DBT mode.

During the felicitation ceremony, which was attended by dignitaries including Advisor to Lt Governor Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar and Secretary of Youth Services & Sports Sarmad Hafeez, the Lt Governor inaugurated a State-of-the-Art Synthetic Football Turf at Parade Ground, Jammu, worth Rs 4.83 crore. Additionally, he laid the foundation stone of the Synthetic Hockey Field at Bandhurakh, valued at Rs 4.85 crore.

Expressing his appreciation for the athletes’ achievements, Lt Governor Sinha emphasized the transformative impact of modern sports infrastructure and world-class training facilities in enabling sportspersons from Jammu and Kashmir to excel on national and international platforms. He commended the athletes for their dedication and perseverance, highlighting their recent successes in major sporting events such as the Asian Para Games, National Games, and National School Games.

“We have built modern sports infrastructure, providing world-class training and mentoring to athletes and all other supports to ensure J&K’s sportspersons are able to achieve excellence in national and international sporting events,” remarked Lt Governor Sinha, underscoring the commitment of the government towards promoting sports and nurturing talent across the Union Territory.

The Lt Governor also lauded the efforts of the Sports Department, Sports Council, and associations for their role in fostering a robust sports culture in Jammu and Kashmir. He reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to completing the recruitment process of sportspersons at the earliest and ensuring their welfare.

In addition to felicitating the medal winners, Lt Governor Sinha interacted with the athletes and distributed sports kits and equipment to budding players, encouraging them to continue striving for excellence.

The inauguration of state-of-the-art sports infrastructure and the felicitation of athletes mark significant steps towards promoting sports and youth development in Jammu and Kashmir, reflecting the government’s unwavering commitment to nurturing talent and fostering a culture of sportsmanship across the region.