Jammu, November 13 (Scoop News) – Maharashtra boys and Delhi girls teams lifted the 22nd Sub-Junior National Kabaddi Championships at the finals of the Boys and Girls categories played at the M. A. Stadium here this evening. In the boys category, Maharashtra defeated Chhittisgarh, while in the girls section Delhi won the final by defeating Maharashtra. Both the finals were keenly played competitions.
The Governor, N. N. Vohra, who was the Chief Guest on the occasion, gave away the prizes to the winners and runners up teams and medals to the individual players. He also gave away golden chains to Babli of Delhi and Ashay Vagade of Maharashtra for being adjudged the best players of the tournament. In all, 56 teams from across the country participated in the Championship in which about 145 matches were played in both Boys and Girls categories.
Speaking on the occasion, the Governor said that there is large talent and high potential among the youth of the State and if given adequate opportunities they can win medals at the national and international levels. He said that there is need for raising more sports infrastructure so that sports activities can be promoted in a big way across Jammu and Kashmir.
The Governor congratulated the winners, runners up and all the participating teams and complimented the organizers for arranging the Championship successfully. He hoped that more such Championships would be organized in the State in the coming times.
Later, The Governor declared the Meet Closed, which was followed by the ceremonies of Folding of Flags.
Earlier, the players of both the Boys and Girls teams were introduced to the Governor before the commencement of the final matches. The players also had a group photograph with the Governor.
The Minister for Youth Services and Sports, R. S. Chib, speaking on the occasion, gave a resume of the initiatives being taken by the Government for building sports infrastructure and promoting sporting activities in the State. He thanked the Governor and the Chief Minister for being Chief Guests at the closing and opening ceremonies respectively which, he said, in itself speaks about the high importance the Government is giving for promotion of sports activities in J&K. He added that efforts would be made to organize some national level championships at the district levels also.
The President, J&K Amateur Kabaddi Association, Prof. Chaman Lal Gupta, MLA, gave details of the teams and the matches played during the Championship. He stressed the need for associating more youth with the sports activities for giving fillip to sports culture in the State.
The MLC, Asgar Ali, congratulated the organizers for hosting the tournament most successfully. He said that Kabaddi is our traditional sport, which needs to be further popularized.
The General Secretary, Amateur Kabaddi Association of India, K. Jagdishwar Yadav, appreciated the organizers for organizing the Championship effectively and said that his Association is contemplating to organize international Kabaddi event in the State in the coming times.
The Director General, Youth Services and Sports, S. A. Laharwal, thanked the Amateur Kabaddi Association of India for organizing this Championship in the State.
The students of the Shangrila Higher Secondary School, Sarwal presented a captivating Dogri folk action song on the occasion.
Senior authorities of the Youth Services and Sports Department, functionaries of the participating teams, prominent persons and sport lovers were present on the occasion.