My Youth My Pride: World Fencing Day Celebrated at Pulwama

NL Correspondent
Srinagar, Sep 11
In its mission to introduce national and international sports in every nook and corner of UT, J&K Sports Council in collaboration with J&K
Fencing Association is organizing a 6-day coaching cum talent hunt programme in the Indoor Hall Rajpora, here.
More than 350 athletes comprising of both boys and girls are participating in the event. Speaking on the occasion, J&K Secretary
Sports Council Nuzhat Gull said that the council is in the process to extend reach to all such areas of the UT which have remained
aloof of sports so far.
Moreover, sports disciplines that have a scope of fetching medals on the national and international stage shall be introduced at all
levels as there is every likelihood that we may unearth a rare jewel, she added. Rashid Chowdhary, convenor of J&K Fencing Association
said that fencers of J&K have excelled everywhere and with the way athletes have shown interest in the game, he was sure that we may
have some medallists here in the crowd too who need to be groomed and polished for the future.
He said, many J&K fencers have featured and shown a good promise at not only national but international level too. He said Vishal
Thapar, Javeed Ahmed, and Mayank Sharma participated in the Senior World Cup held in Spain this year besides Vishal also participated
in the Senior Asian Championship held in Korea. Among the female fencers, Riya Bakshi participated in the senior Foil Fencing World Cup held
in Seoul Korea, and Kritharthi Kotwal and Shriya Gupta participated in the Junior Commonwealth Fencing Championship held in London and
won a bronze medal for the country.
The 6-day talent hunt programme shall be followed by a district championship and more such programmes shall be followed in
other districts of the UT under the flagship programme ‘My Youth My Pride', said Bashir Ahmad Bhat, Joint Secretary J&K Sports Council.