The tournament commenced on August 13 and provided a platform for young cricketers from far-flung areas to showcase their talent, competitive spirit and enthusiasm for the sport.

Teams representing different villages participated in the tournament, bringing together young players from remote areas and giving them an opportunity to compete in a structured and fair sporting environment.

The tournament sought to promote teamwork, discipline, sportsmanship and healthy competition among local youth while encouraging greater participation in sports at the grassroots level.

A major objective of the initiative was to identify and nurture promising cricketing talent from the villages. The participating players got an opportunity to demonstrate their skills and gain valuable match experience, helping create a pool of local talent capable of competing at higher levels.

The tournament also provided a platform for the selection and preparation of players for the upcoming North Kashmir Premier League. Promising performers from the tournament are expected to get an opportunity to take their cricketing journey to a higher level.

The initiative also brought together youth from different villages through sport, strengthening community participation and providing young people with a constructive avenue to pursue their sporting interests.

The successful conduct of the Aman Aur Awam Cricket Premier League highlights the role of grassroots sporting initiatives in encouraging youth engagement and providing opportunities for emerging talent in remote areas.

The event concluded with an emphasis on continued participation in sports and creating more opportunities for local youth to develop their skills through competitive platforms.

Poonch : The Inter-District Provincial-Level Table Tennis Competitions for U-14, U-17 and U-19 Boys and Girls commenced Friday at the Indoor Sports Stadium.

The championship has brought together promising young table tennis players from different districts, providing them with a valuable platform to showcase their skills, gain competitive exposure and strive for excellence at higher levels.

The tournament was inaugurated by Deputy Commissioner Poonch Ashok Kumar Sharma, who interacted with the participating players and extended his best wishes to all the tea He encouraged the young athletes to compete with discipline, confidence, dedication and true sportsmanship.  He highlighted the significance of sports in nurturing discipline, teamwork, confidence, leadership and a positive competitive spirit among youth.

The participating players expressed enthusiasm and determination to perform their best in the championship. They said that competitions at the provincial level provide valuable exposure and experience while motivating them to pursue their sporting goals with greater dedication.

District Youth Sports and Service Officer Mohammad Qasim said that the competitions are being conducted in a systematic and disciplined manner while ensuring adherence to rules, fair play and proper sporting standards. He appreciated the enthusiasm and cooperation of the participating players, coaches, officials and supporting staff during the event.

Meanwhile, the Department of Youth Services & Sports Poonch also continued its youth-centric initiatives under the NashaMukt Bharat Abhiyaan and Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue. Friday, around 2,379 individuals took part in activities associated with the NashaMukt Bharat Abhiyaan, while approximately 327 registrations were recorded for the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue, reflecting the active participation of youth in awareness, nation-building and community-oriented initiatives.

The Inter-District Provincial-Level Table Tennis Competitions will continue till September 19, 2026, providing participants with opportunities to showcase their talent and compete with players from different districts.

On the concluding day, Rajouri defeated Samba by 33 points in the first semi-final to secure its place in the final, while Poonch defeated Ramban by 20 points in the second semi-final to book the other finalist spot, sources said. The final witnessed an exciting contest between Poonch and Rajouri, with both teams displaying commendable skill, determination, teamwork, and sportsmanship. Poonch maintained its composure throughout the match to comfortably lift the title, witnesses said.

District Youth Services and Sports Officer Ashok Kumar appreciated all participating teams for their spirited performances and lauded the technical officials, field staff, and departmental personnel for ensuring the smooth conduct of the tournament, reports said.

Addressing the gathering, the MLA called upon coaches and technical officials to identify promising talent and nurture their skills through regular coaching, mentoring and guidance. He emphasised the need for a sustained and long-term approach to player development to prepare young sportspersons for higher-level and national competitions. He also encouraged the participants to “dream big”, remain curious and continuously strive to learn and improve. The MLA appreciated the District Administration Ramban for its continued support, cooperation and hospitality in facilitating the successful conduct of the championship.

The winners and runners-up were felicitated during the ceremony. Jammu Division emerged victorious in all six categories, while Kashmir Division secured the runner-up positions. The championship was conducted under the overall supervision of District Youth Services & Sports Officer, Ramban, Nazir Hussain. The event provided an important platform for emerging chess talent to gain competitive exposure, sharpen their skills and enhance their preparedness for higher-level competitions.

Speaking on the objective, Patel noted that VBYLD provides a structured national platform for youth to contribute innovative solutions towards Viksit Bharat@2047. He appealed to educational institutions and regional organizations to facilitate widespread student engagement, emphasizing that “the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047 can be realised through the meaningful participation and contribution of the country’s young generation.”

The match witnessed an attacking display from both teams, with players creating several opportunities throughout the game. Swift Strikers looked dangerous and dominating from the start but missed on many opportunities to score a goal.

Crespo was among the standout performers for Swift Strikers, while Aakif Reshi put in a strong performance for United Elegant FC, contributing to his team’s efforts in a tightly fought contest.

Both teams eventually found the net once, with neither side able to produce a decisive goal as the match ended 1-1.

Despite sustained efforts from both sides, the match ended in a 1-1 draw, with the two teams sharing the points after an entertaining and closely fought encounter.

The result adds another competitive fixture to an increasingly intense Khyber Cement Kashmir Super League Season 2, with teams continuing to battle for crucial points as the tournament progresses.

Dar is among just four AIFF Coach Educator Experts in India entrusted with the responsibility of developing and mentoring the next generation of coach educators under the FIFA Coach Educator Development Pathway Project. Together, the four experts have played a key role in developing 16 Coach Educators from across the country.

The four-day final module of the FIFA Coach Educator Development Pathway Project, organised by the All India Football Federation (AIFF), concluded in Bengaluru on Tuesday, September 8, 2026. The final module was conducted from September 5 to 8 as part of FIFA’s wider initiative to strengthen coach education and create structured pathways for the professional development of coach educators.

The AIFF was selected by FIFA’s Technical Development Division to implement the Coach Education Programme for its Member Associations. The project, which commenced in 2022, incorporated a combination of e-learning, online and on-site modules, individual mentoring and continuous professional support.

The objective of the programme is to provide sustained support to coach educators, enhance their technical and educational competencies, and establish a structured pathway for their professional growth.

The final module in Bengaluru was led by four AIFF Coach Educator Experts — Sajid Dar, Shakti Chauhan, Shekhar Kerkar and ParthasarathiThulasi.

The programme brought together 16 participants from different parts of India:

Altafuddin Ahmed Syed, Kundan Chandra, Pradhyum Reddy, Deepak CM, Derryl Dsouza, Dinesh Nair, Gumpe Rime, Jeddy Almeida, JoshuahVaz, John Kenneth Raj, Mario Aguiar, Uttam Singh Negi, Prashant J Singh, Shafeeq Hassan Madathil, Shailesh Karkera and Shakti Singh. As part of the programme, FIFA Expert Mr. Oscar Gonsalves was appointed to support and guide the participants throughout the assessment process. AIFF Head of Coach Development Mr. Vivek Nagul was also present in Bengaluru and extended his support to the programme.

The meeting was attended by Additional Deputy Commissioner KulgamViqar Ahmed Giri, Chief Planning Officer Malik Suheel, Assistant Commissioner Revenue Reyaz Ahmad Shah, Assistant Commissioner Development Bilal Ahmad Kamgar, besides officers from the Department of Youth Services & Sports and other concerned departments.

The meeting held detailed deliberations on various aspects concerning the rollout of the Scheme in the district, including identification of eligible institutions, development of sports infrastructure and effective convergence among the concerned departments.

The Deputy Commissioner informed the participants that the Government of India has approved the Khelo India Scheme for the period 2026-27 to 2030-31 with the objective of establishing an integrated grassroots-to-elite talent development pathway for nurturing sporting talent across the country.

The meeting also discussed the proposed upgradation of eligible schools into Khelo India Excellence Schools, Khelo India Feeder Schools and Khelo India Centres. The participants deliberated on the scope for identifying gaps in sports infrastructure at the district level and proposing them for funding under the Scheme, subject to the issuance of operational guidelines by the Ministry.

The Deputy Commissioner directed the concerned officers to undertake a comprehensive assessment of existing sports infrastructure and identify eligible institutions with potential for inclusion under the Scheme. He called for timely preparation of proposals for their submission through the appropriate UT-level channel.

Shahzad Alam stressed the importance of coordinated efforts by all stakeholders to ensure effective implementation of the Scheme and to create enhanced opportunities