Srinagar: The two-day district championship event organized by District Srinagar Pencak Silat Association in collaboration with Pencak Silat Association of J&K under the aegis of J&K Sports Council commenced at Indoor Hall Polo Ground Srinagar, on Saturday.
More than 790 players drawn from different schools and clubs are participating in the championship.
In-charge manager of Indoor Sports Complex, Mohammad Iqbal waa the chief guest on the inaugural ceremony.
Besides, office bearers of the state and district association units of J&K Pencak Silat Association were also present on the occasion.
Speaking at the event, M Iqbal said that the athletes of J&K have shown a considerable improvement in performance at both national and international levels. This spurt in the performance is an outcome of the availability of modern-day training facilities, coupled with the grooming of athletes on scientific lines along with the emergence of robust sports culture, he added.
“The participants shall compete in different age groups including pre-teen, sub-junior, junior in both boys and girls besides senior men and women events will also be held,” said Irfan Aziz Botta Treasurer, Indian Pencak Silat Federation.
The best formers of the event will be shortlisted for the forthcoming state and national level championships to be held this year, he maintained.
Meanwhile, the first match of the three-match series between South Kashmir Sports Council Cricket Academy and Baramulla Cricket Academy was played at Jhelum Stadium Baramulla.
The Baramulla Cricket Academy after winning the toss elected to bat first. The team bundled out for 154 runs in their allotted quota of 25 overs, losing all wickets in the pursuit.
Burhan bowled a brilliant spell conceding 30 runs and claiming 4 important wickets. He jolted the opponents and they were unable to recover from the damage inflicted by his tight line and seam.
While chasing the target South Kashmir Cricket Academy scaled down the finish line in 24.1 overs for the loss of 8 wickets. Thanks to the vital knock of Adnan who scored well and compiled 37 runs, South Kashmir Academy pocketed the first match of the encounter.
Burhan for his brilliant spell was adjudged player of the match. He received the winning memento from the ace cricketer of J&K, Parveez Rasool.
One more cricket match was played under a community program at KNS Stadium Radpora Srinagar between the local teams yesterday.
The match was played under floodlights starting in the evening and was in progress till late night. The matches played under floodlights have been a game-changer in increasing community participation in sports.
Meanwhile, Sports Council Gymnastic Academy is imparting training and aims to provide the same level of training and facilities in all the districts of J&K. The unwavering support of the athletes ensures they have the best resources to excel in gymnastics and like the existing academy, the equipment, and arena at the new facility will be of top-notch quality.
With the establishment of a new academy, the Sports Council aims to further strengthen the gymnastics scene in the region and provide opportunities for talented athletes in Srinagar, and groom gymnasts for the national and international levels.
