Srinagar: About 100 players, including girls, of different age groups participated in the first Foundation for Sports Learning and Development (FSLD) summer camp at world famous tourist resort of Pahalgam.
The four-day winter camp was organized by FSLD under its ‘Sports for better mental health’ initiative, which has been launched by the foundation to promote healthy living through different sports disciplines, including martial arts, in Jammu and Kashmir.
The summer camp, for which participants were flagged off from Gindun Stadium in Srinagar and Women’s college Anantnag on Saturday, was concluded on Tuesday. The event was sponsored by Star Homes, Aarafh spices, Mak ply board, Ply Glass, Anantnag Titans, Stop n Shop, QUEST management academy, Pets and Love, FLSD Foodies.
Lauding the initiative taken by FSLD to promote healthy living though martial arts, Naib Tehsildar Pahalgam, Ghulam Geelani, said sports culture should be encouraged to channelize the energy of the youth positively. “Youth have not been exposed to the culture of camping and such events will give them an opportunity to meet and interacts with kids from other parts of the state,” he said.
He said all possible help will be extended to FLSD for hosting sports activities, including national tournaments, in the state.
The organizers of the summer camp said that the event was organized to relieve mental stress of students, who have been confined to their respective homes from last about three years due to unrest in 2019 and COVID-19 pandemic thereafter. “The idea behind organizing this event was to give some sought of relief to the youth from the mental stress that they have encountered due to confinement in their respective homes due to the prevailing satiation. Mental health issues has gone up many fold which has resulted in increase in the number of suicides and other related issued,” General Secretary of FLSD Aaqib Majeed said.
He said counseling sessions on ill effects of drug abuse was also held during the camp. “Special emphases were also given to teaching self defence techniques to the female participants of the camp,” he added.
