Srinagar: The Department of Youth Services and Sports (YSS) J&K is actively promoting sports and physical fitness among the students and youth in general by organizing series of district-level inter-zonal competitions across the Kashmir division. These events aim to identify and nurture young talent while fostering a spirit of sportsmanship and healthy competition.
In Pulwama, the YSS organized inter-zonal district-level competitions for boys under the age categories of 17 and 14 in Badminton, Chess, and Kabaddi at Boys Higher Secondary School (BHSS) Pulwama. The event was designed to bring together budding athletes from across the district, providing them with a platform to showcase their skills and prepare for higher-level competitions. The tournament was inaugurated by Ab Hamid Dar, Principal of MMBHSS, in the presence of officials from the Youth Services and Sports Department as well as the School Education Department. Addressing the participants, the chief guest emphasized the importance of sports in leading a healthy lifestyle and highlighted the growing opportunities in sports as a viable career option. Additionally, an anti-drug pledge was administered to raise awareness about the dangers of substance abuse among the youth.
Meanwhile, in Budgam, the YSS successfully conducted the Inter-Zonal District Level Table Tennis Tournament for boys and girls under the 17 age group. The event was held simultaneously at Boys Higher Secondary School (BHSS) Budgam and Government Girls Higher Secondary School (GGHSS) Budgam, witnessing enthusiastic participation from students across various zones. The tournament was organized under the supervision of District Youth Services and Sports Officer (DYSSO) Budgam, G.H. Hassan Lone. The opening ceremonies were presided over by the principals of the respective host institutions, while the closing ceremony was attended by G.H. Hassan Khanday, the overall in-charge, and Shakeel-ur-Rehman, the assistant overall in-charge.
In Anantnag, the YSS resumed its district-level inter-zonal competitions with great enthusiasm at SRJ Higher Secondary School, Khanabal. The events included Chess, Table Tennis, and Badminton for boys in the U-14 and U-17 categories. Alongside these competitions, inter-school zonal and intra-school events were also revived across different educational zones in the district, attracting participation from students of both government and private institutions. The competitions served as a platform for young athletes to demonstrate their abilities, with notable performances in Chess by Muheeb Riyaz (1st position, Zone Anantnag), Eleem Zargar (2nd position, Zone Qazigund), and Mir Mujeeb (3rd position, Zone Bidder). In Badminton, Afham Altaf (Zone Shangus) secured the top spot in singles, while Jasim Kumar and Junaid Kumar (Zone Achabal) won the doubles event. Table Tennis saw Shahiq Fayaz (Zone Anantnag) clinching first place, followed by Junaid Dar (Zone Srigufwara) and Shehran Qayoom (Zone Anantnag).
Similarly, in Shopian, the YSS organized an inter-zonal district-level Kabaddi competition for U-14 and U-17 boys at the Sports Stadium, Batepora. The event was inaugurated by Reyaz Ahmad Wachkoo, In-charge Activity DYSSO Shopian, who also led an anti-drug pledge at the venue. In addition, interschool zonal-level Kabaddi competitions for U-14 and U-17 girls were held at Zone Imamsahib (Homehuna Nagbal) and Zone Keegam (YSS Field Sindhu Shirmal). The event at Keegam was inaugurated by Zonal Physical Education Officer (ZPEO) Bashir Ahmad Dar, with another anti-drug pledge ceremony reinforcing the Department’s campaign against substance abuse.
