State-level football tourney concludes
JAMMU, DECEMBER 30 – The SPMR College of Commerce, Jammu today lifted the final trophy of the prestigious State level Football Tournament “Khelo Sehat Ke Liye”, Play for Health, which was played between Government Degree College Sopore and SPMR College of Commerce here at the GGM Science College’s Ground.
With this, the prestigious 4-month long football tournament organized by the State Health & Medical Education Department in collaboration with the J&K Sports Council & J&K Football Association has come to an end. The SPMR College defeated the rival Government Degree College Sopore team with 1-0 margin.
Minister for Health & Medical Education, Bali Bhagat, who was Chief Guest of the tournament also participated in the game as player, gave away the trophies to the teams and cash prizes of Rs. 50,000/- to the winners and Rs. 25,000/- to the runners up.
MLA, Rajesh Gupta was also present on the occasion as Guest of honor.
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said that the sports play a vital role in the harmonious development of the youth and the Government has given priority to this sector and has taken various steps for the promotion of Sports activities in the State. The Union Government has been providing liberal funding for upgrading the existing and development of new infrastructure under the sector to facilitate the players so that they compete at different levels. The Department of Health & Medical Education, which is mandated with taking care of health of the people has initiated to give impetus to the sports activities, involving large number of youth, especially the college students across the State. He said that the sports not only keep the youth physically and mentally fit, but also inculcate the sense of team spirit, responsibility, discipline and patriotism that help to make one responsible citizens. The sports activities also help in keeping the youth away from the drugs addiction and various other social evils in the society, said the Minister.
Bali said that the initiative was also aimed at to provide opportunity to the budding players to showcase their talent which will help them to make their way at the national and inter-national level. He said the football is the popular sports in the State, especially in the Kashmir Valley and hoped that more and more youth will participate in the sports activities in the coming times. He said that Government was making all out efforts to develop sports stadia in every nook and corner of the State to facilitate the sports persons.
He expressed gratitude to the organizers for managing the tournament nicely and wished the players great success in future. He said the Health Department will continue to organize such tournaments in future as well and involve large number of youth in the sports. He conveyed his special thanks to the J&K Sports Council and J&K Football Association and State Level Nodal Officer of the tournament, Dr. Mushtaq Ahmed Rather for their relentless efforts to make this tournament a great success.
Earlier, the Minister met the players and handshake with them.
On the occasion, the Minister also announced the prestigious Pt. Prem Nath Dogra Football Gold Cup Tournament which will be played at the same venue from 20 to 31 January, 2018 to give further impetus to the sports activities in Jammu division. Several departmental teams from J&K and other States will participate in this important event.
Rajesh Gupta highlighted the importance of the sports in the day-to-day life of people and said that everyone must take part in some sports to keep mentally as well as physically fit in life. He congratulated the Minister and other organizers for such a wonderful state-wide tournament. He also congratulated the players for showing best sports spirit and wished them great success ahead.
Project Director, J&K AIDS Control Society, Dr. Mushtaq Ahmed Rather, who was Nodal Officer of the tournament while briefing about the activities of the event said that the Department of Health & Medical Education took initiative to organize such a mega tournament to give an impetus to the sports activities in the state. He said it was the brainchild of the Health Minister, Bali Bhagat, who himself is a good football player and participated in many tournaments as players in past.
During this lengthy tournament, as many as 44 matches were played in almost all districts of the State, wherein degree colleges of these districts have participated and showed great enthusiasm. In Valley the sports lover turned in a large number to witness the matches, as football is the most popular game in Kashmir.
Prominent among those present on the occasion included, Principal, GMC, Jammu, Secretary Technical (H&ME), Director Family Welfare, J&K, Mission Director, NHM, MD, JKMSCL, State President, Football Association, Z.A. Thakur, large number of doctors, para-medics, college/school students and other sports lovers.
