The launch of two indoor stadiums by LG Manoj Sinha in the border belt of Marh and Jourian is a good initiative but there is still a long way to go to provide a fair deal to the youth of far-off and border areas in J&K.
It is a hard fact that unlike other states the political leadership in J&K is more concerned about education and employment of the younger population with little focus on providing infrastructure to help the next generation to excel in sports. Except for the two capital cities in J&K, there are hardly any opportunities for the young athletes to hone their skills and get recognition in the sports field. The rural areas, border belts and even places at small distances from major cities lack sports facilities limiting opportunities for the younger generation to take games as a career.
Undoubtedly, the new indoor stadiums equipped with modern shooting ranges and versatile indoor courts, are designed to inspire excellence and cultivate the champions of tomorrow but again the area these sports facilities will cater to is quite limited and therefore the need of the hour is that every single pocket in J&K should have similar facilities where the youth can go and channelize their energy in the right direction.
After the government in J&K took certain steps in the cities of Jammu and Srinagar by taking sports seriously and providing adequate coaching facilities, the players of the UT have started reaching podiums in various sports in national and international arenas. If similar facilities are provided at the village level, one can easily gauge the outcome of such an initiative because there is no dearth of talent in J&K but what is missing is proper infrastructure and training opportunities.
It is imperative that both the LG’s administration and CM Omar Abdullah’s government should work persistently on this issue and create appropriate facilities for the children to channel their energy because this could help reduce problems like drug abuse and other social issues when the youth get direction to prove their mettle and have bright prospects through sports and games.
All said and done, one can say that sports can serve not only as a pathway to achievement but also as a constructive outlet for energy and aspiration. The helmsmen should therefore start pondering how to invest rationally in building grassroots sports infrastructure and creating ecosystems including training local coaches, ensuring regular competitions, and integrating sports into community life. The message for those governing the UT is clear, act decisively and the results will follow.
