Srinagar, June 09 (Scoop News) –Minister for Finance and Ladakh Affairs Abdul Rahim Rather kick started Phase-II of Kashmir Premier League (KPL)- Chinar Cup-2012 at Delhi Public School here this morning.
Minister for Youth Services and Sports R S Chib was also present on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, Rather while lauding the organizers of KPL tournament said it is a grand initiative to exploit the sports talent of the budding Kashmir youth. He said youth of the state have enough talent and potential, which needs to be channelized and polished in a befitting manner. He hoped that KPL would go a long way in brining Kashmir into the cricket main stage by way of nurturing budding cricketers of the valley. He said that KPL is a revolutionary initiative on the part of army to discover budding cricketers in the valley, besides engaging large number of youth from all the districts of Kashmir in constructive activities.
Rather while highlighting the importance of sports said that it imbibes team spirit, discipline, quick decision power and Physical fitness which are the basic requirements for living a successful life. “On who possesses these qualities is known as best and able administrator”, Rather added. He said success of the KPL-2011 has proved that this tournament has now changed into a grand sports movement and every youth is eager to get a chance to participate in it.
Speaking on the occasion, Chib said that KPL would be broad based into Jammu and Kashmir Premier League (J&KPL) to achieve the objectives for bringing youth of the state into the fold of national cricket mainstream. He said the KPL initially conceived by the 15 Corps Commander Lt. Gen. S A Hasnain has now become a permanent feature. He thanked Chinar Corps for lending out help and assistance in organizing the KPL Chinar-2012, adding that it would go a long way in finding out real cricket talent of budding youth having good potential for grand international and national level cricket event like IPL.
The Minister also mentioned about the successful conduct of Jammu Premier League (JPL) Tawi Cup T-20 cricket tournament. He appreciated the efforts of GoC, 16 Corps, Lt. Gen. A S Nandan who was instrumental in providing all possible help in the launch of JPL in which over 300 matches were played.
GoC, 15 Corps, Lieutenant General, Syed Atta Hasnain in his briefing about KPL said that it was started in 2010 after getting inspiration from IPL, adding that the KPL tournament has generated tremendous interest and response from across the country and state as well. He said army is sponsoring youth of the state under its Sadhbhawna programme for Skill Development and coaching in cricket and other games. He said young cricketers of the state have participated in various sports events and played cricket on the world famous Eden Garden cricket stadium of Kolkatta and in Chennai also.
The KPL Chinar Cup was jointly organized by Department of Youth Services and Sports and Army under Sadhbhawna programme.
During Phase-I of the tournament, as many as 220 teams from across the valley participated in which over 320 matches were played at intra-district level of which 14 best team from 10 districts were selected for participation in Phase-II of the tournament. The selected teams would play 50 matches over a span of 41 days and the final of the tournament would be played in July.
The Srinagar, Baramulla, Anantnag and Budgam district have fielded two teams each while as Kupwara, Bandipora, Kulgam, Pulwama, Shopian and Ganderbal have fielded one team each respectively.
Later, the Ministers along with cricket Icon of the country, Arun Lal presented the replica of Chinar Cup-2011 trophy to the winning team of KPL-2011. They were also introduced with the players of participating teams of the tournament.
Among others, Lt. Gen, Om Parkash, Cricket Icon Arun Lal, Director, Youth Services & Sports S. Jaipal Singh, IGP, Kashmir, S M Sahai, IG, CRPF, Romesh, nodal officer, KPL Brig. Nav K. Khanduri, Chairman, DPS, Vijay Dhar, Deputy Directors, Youth Services & Sports Ashok Kumar and Mrs. Nilofer Amin, senior officers from civil administration, all ranks of army, players and large number of sports lovers were also present.