Jammu Tawi, Feb 23: Union Minister of State for the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Nitish Pramanik Friday said that the government was creating a sports eco-system in Jammu and Kashmir to produce international-level athletes from the union territory.
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of Khelo India Khelo Winter Games 2024, which is underway in Gulmarg, Pramanik said the administration was making efforts to build sports infrastructure at ground level in Jammu and Kashmir.
“In Jammu and Kashmir we have maximum number of Khelo India centers. We have Khelo India centers in every district and the administration has kept the facility of playground in every village here. So, the basic idea is that our youth who lives in the remotest villages get a basic platform to reach to the international stage. Kashmir is progressing towards a sporting Kashmir,” he said.
He said the Jammu and Kashmir administration and sports council has succeeded in building a sports ecosystem in the union territory.
“I must congratulate the Jammu and Kashmir administration and sports council for working very hard to create an ecosystem of sports in the union territory. Earlier during winter there used to be no activity in Kashmir and now biggest sports event Khelo India Khelo winter games are being held here for the last four years,” he said.
The union minister said he took suggestions from the athletes and people about development of sports in the union territory.
“I met a lot of people and took their feedback and suggestions. We will certainly work further to develop sports in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
Pramanik said the ongoing Khelo India Khelo Winter Games 2024 broke all the recording set by the previous editions.
“Every year we keep on breaking records which is a very positive thing. We have more than 2000 sportsperson and sport lovers who have come from different corners of the country for winter games,” he said.
The union minister said the situation in Jammu and Kashmir was changing. “Earlier people used to fear to step out of their homes after 6pm. Now we have night matches and practice sessions being held in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
