Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today inaugurated the Gymnastics Academy of J&K at MA Stadium. It is one of North India’s premier gymnastics training facilities.
The Lt Governor also attended the closing ceremony of National level 56th Artistic & 25th Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships.
On the occasion, the Lt Governor announced that the Government of J&K will bear all the expenses of Para Athletes Chandeep Singh and Mohd Sultan Rather for the World Para Taekwondo Championship, to be held in Istanbul, Turkey.
Addressing the gathering, the Lt Governor congratulated the sportspersons and budding gymnasts for the opening of the Gymnastics Academy.
He said that the Gymnastics Academy will identify the talents, hone their abilities and provide them all support to bring laurels at Olympics and International level.
The Lt Governor observed that the formal inauguration of the Gymnastics Academy awaited for many years shows the strong resolve of the Jammu and Kashmir administration to strengthen the resources of sports and make sports an important part of the society.
We are committed to extend all-out support to the local talent to scale new heights of success. Sportspersons who made J&K and the nation proud will get due recognition of their achievements, the Lt Governor said.
J&K Government is involving all stakeholders and Policy Advocacy Research Center for the effective implementation of the new sports policy, which will be unveiled within a month, observed the Lt Governor.
We are also in the process of notifying new rules to provide better job opportunities to the renowned players, he added.
Underscoring the ground-breaking initiatives taken to create a flourishing sports culture at the grassroots level, the Lt Governor said that the UT Government is giving focused attention to develop world class infrastructure, arranging the best coaches, implementing new policies for laying a solid foundation for the budding sportspersons and making J&K the Power House of sports.
We are all set to complete the 615 projects, under UT CAPEX, including Renovation and Upgradation of all Sports Infrastructure by March 2022. Apart from this, 190 projects (out of 520) for creating world-class sports infrastructure in all schools and colleges of J&K have been completed. Out of 31 projects under the Prime Minister’s Development Package, 25 projects have been completed till date, the Lt Governor observed.
The combined budget of education and sports of Jammu and Kashmir is Rs 2386 crores, which is way more than various bigger States and UTs. Besides, Youth Services and Sports, this year, is allocated with a budget of Rs 513 crore. At least 17 lakh youth will be provided sports opportunities and Youth clubs have been established in all the panchayats, all urban wards of the UT which will bring out the best sporting talent of J&K, he added.
The Lt Governor appreciated the Sports Council for organizing more than two lakh activities this year to realize the vision of “har din Khel, Sabhi ke Liye Khel”.
On the occasion, the Lt Governor interacted with the Gymnasts of all States/UTs, and felicitated the outstanding sportsperson of J&K with cash awards.
A cheque of Rs 5 lakh was handed over to paralympian Rakesh Kumar, and Rs 2 lakh to Shooter Chain Singh.
In her welcome address, Ms. Nuzhat Gul, Secretary J&K Sports Council briefed the features of Gymnastics equipment and other facilities which are being created in Jammu for the coming generation.
About 600 Gymnasts including officials from different States/UTs participated in Gymnastics Championships organized under the aegis of Gymnastics Federation of India and J&K Olympic Association in collaboration with J&K Sports Council, it was informed.
Prominent others present on occasion were Sh. Chander Mohan Gupta, Mayor JMC; Sh Farooq Khan, Advisor to Lt Governor; Sh. Alok Kumar, Principal Secretary Youth Services and Sports; Sh. Mukesh Singh, ADGP Jammu; Dr. Raghav Langer Divisional Commissioner Jammu; Er. Kiran Wattal President J&K Gymnastics Association; Sh. Kaushik Bidiwala from Gymnastics Federation of India Sh. Rajesh Gupta Chairman Organizing Committee and others.