Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Udhampur-Reasi Range, Shiv Kumar inaugurated the league as chief guest while Additional District Development Commissioner (ADDC) Jugal Kishore attended as guest of honour. District Youth Services & Sports Officer (DYSSO) Tarsem Singh presided over the inaugural function.

Addressing the gathering, the DIG congratulated the Department of Youth Services & Sports for organising the league and appreciated the district administration for its support to youth-centric initiatives. He said sports serve as a powerful medium for channelising the energy of young people into constructive pursuits while steering them away from social evils and substance abuse. He urged the participants to compete with discipline and wished them success in the tournament.

The league has witnessed an enthusiastic response, with 458 players from across the district registering for the competition. The ADDC also spoke on the occasion and appreciated the Department of Youth Services & Sports for organising the league under the Youth Empowerment Programme. He said sports play a vital role in shaping disciplined youth while promoting physical fitness, teamwork and social responsibility. He urged the participants to uphold the spirit of fair play and sportsmanship throughout the tournament.

Earlier, the DYSSO highlighted the department’s commitment to providing quality sporting opportunities to young athletes. He said the Play Nation Badminton League is a key initiative under the Youth Empowerment Programme aimed at identifying emerging talent, strengthening grassroots sports and encouraging greater youth participation in constructive activities.

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The programme commenced with administration of the Nasha Mukt Pledge, where students, teachers and officials reaffirmed their commitment to combating drug abuse and promoting a culture of responsibility, positivity and social awareness.

A variety of sports activities were organised to engage youth in constructive pursuits, highlighting the role of games and physical fitness in building confidence, teamwork and resilience while steering young minds away from the menace of substance abuse.

The initiative was conducted under the guidance of Director General, Youth Services & Sports, Anuradha Gupta and the supervision of District Youth Services & Sports Officer, Rajouri, Wali Mohd.

The ceremony marked the commencement of the Group Stage, with the Deputy Commissioner wishing all participating teams well and urging them to uphold the spirit of fair play.

The Group Stage will feature the 12 qualified teams competing in T20 format matches, to be played with the white ball. The Deputy Commissioner said the cricket league has been conceived as a component of the District Nasha Mukt Jammu Kashmir Abhiyan to engage youth in constructive activities, with sports channelising the energy of young people while promoting discipline, teamwork and healthy competition. He said the District Administration is committed to organising more sporting events in the coming months, with efforts to onboard girls as well and widen participation.

The Deputy Commissioner urged participating players to become ambassadors of the anti-drug campaign and motivate other youth to adopt a drug-free lifestyle through sports and other constructive pursuits.

Among those present were Programme Officer ICDS Mohammed Syed, Chief Planning Officer Ranjeet Thakur, District Youth Services and Sports Officer Sunil Kumar, District Information Officer Rajinder Digra and team captains of the 12 qualified tea

Family members described the achievement as the outcome of Usman’s dedication, discipline, and years of hard work. They said his success reflects his unwavering commitment to the sport and serves as an inspiration for aspiring footballers in the region.

The family expressed gratitude to Coach Zahid for his constant guidance, disciplined training, and unwavering support, which they said played a crucial role in shaping Usman’s football journey.

They also thanked Anuj Gupta, owner of Sudeva Delhi FC, for providing talented young players with opportunities to hone their skills and pursue professional football.

Calling the achievement a proud moment for Baki Aker and the entire Handwara area, the family acknowledged the encouragement and support extended by friends, well-wishers, and members of the local community throughout Usman’s journey. They expressed hope that his success would motivate more youth from the region to take up football and strive for excellence.

G’bal : Marking a historic leap in sports capacity building and technical expertise, the Directorate of Youth Services & Sports (DYSS), J&K on Saturday officially rolled out its maiden AIFF (All India Football Federation) Certified Football Referee Course at the Government College of Physical Education (GCOPE), here.

The prestigious four-day certification programme was virtually inaugurated by the Director General, YSS J&K Anuradha Gupta, who graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. The pioneering initiative has brought together 40 meticulously selected Physical Education teachers and officials representing a vibrant mix of both male and female sports professionals from all 20 districts of the Union Territory.

Organized with the direct technical support and expertise of the All India Football Federation (AIFF), the intensive course is designed to equip participants with top tier professional training. The comprehensive curriculum delves deep into the latest global Laws of the Game, modern refereeing methodologies, advanced match management, split-second decision-making, elite fitness standards, and hands-on practical officiating skills.

Speaking to the trainees during her virtual address, DG YSS congratulated the batch and highlighted the Department’s strategic focus on empowering grassroots sports educators with national level credentials. Expressing her utmost gratitude to the All India Football Federation for deputing the best resource persons for the hassle-free and effective organisation of the course, she extended special thanks to Nazir Ahmed Bhat, Head of Referees J&K, for his coordinated efforts in making the course possible.

The elite panel of deputed trainers conducting the course includes Rahul Kumar Gupta (Referee’s Manager, AIFF), Mohd. Kamil (Referee’s Instructor, AIFF), and Umesh Bora (Referee’s Instructor, AIFF).

Emphasizing the transformative impact of the initiative, the DG YSS stated, “True sporting excellence on the field is impossible without absolute precision and professionalism behind the whistle. By introducing this AIFF certification course, DYSS is not just training individuals; we are actively engineering a world class football ecosystem in J&K. Our goal is to create a robust, highly qualified pool of homegrown referees who will uphold the highest standards of fair play and take our local competitions to a national benchmark. I urge our physical educators to absorb this knowledge passionately and act as catalysts for the growth of the game in every nook and corner of the Union Territory.”

Upon the successful completion of the four-day rigorous module, these 40 officials will step onto the field as certified match officials, ready to lead tournaments with heightened confidence, authority, and modern technical acumen.

The participating officials expressed their profound gratitude to DYSS for bringing such a high caliber national certification to their doorstep. They highly appreciated the visionary leadership and forward-looking approach of the Director General in designing impactful capacity-building initiatives that directly elevate the career graphs of sports professionals in J&K.

The inaugural ceremony at Ganderbal was attended in person by Joint Director Kashmir Mohammad Rashid Kohli, Principal GCOPE Dr. Showkat Hussain; Youth Services and Sports Officer Ganderbal Ghulam Hassan Lone and Nodal Officer Mushtaq Azad, alongside other senior faculty members and officials of the department.

The tournament witnessed enthusiastic participation from 200 athletes representing 14 teams, with a large gathering of spectators adding to the excitement of the event.

The event was organised by the Jammu & Kashmir Sports Council under the ‘My Youth My Pride’ programme, which continues to provide structured opportunities for youth across the Union Territory to participate in sports and showcase their talent at the grassroots level.

The tournament concluded successfully, fostering teamwork, discipline, sportsmanship, and healthy competition among participants, and received appreciation from athletes, spectators, and the local community for its organisation and contribution to grassroots sports development under the ‘My Youth My Pride’ programme.

Srinagar : Hosts NIT Srinagar successfully defended their title and were crowned champions of the All-India Inter-NIT Faculty & Staff Cricket Tournament (Men) 2026 after defeating NIT Puducherry by 88 runs in a one-sided grand finale.

The victory marked NIT Srinagar’s fourth title in the history of the tournament, underlining the institute’s dominance in Inter-NIT faculty and staff cricket.

Congratulating the winning team, Director, NIT Srinagar, Prof. Binod Kumar Kanaujia, said the Institute is proud for successfully defending the title and host another successful edition of the tournament.

He lauded the players for their sportsmanship and competitive spirit, appreciated the efforts of the organising committee, officials, volunteers and support staff, and congratulated all participating NITs for contributing to the success of the event.

Prof. Kanaujia said such tournaments promote teamwork, camaraderie and stronger inter-institutional ties among the National Institutes of Technology.

After winning the toss, NIT Srinagar elected to bat first and posted a formidable 187/4 in 20 overs. Wicketkeeper-batsman Suhail Baba starred with a blistering unbeaten 64 off 32 balls, smashing seven fours and three sixes.

Aaqib Sheikh scored a fluent 50 off 38 deliveries, including six fours and a six, while skipper Faisal Irshad anchored the innings with a composed 29 off 32 balls. Shahid Hamid remained unbeaten on 12 off eight deliveries as the hosts finished on a commanding total.

For NIT Puducherry, Ismail M was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 2/30 in four overs. Gowrishankar claimed 1/29 in four overs, while Murugapandi S picked up 1/27 in three overs. Sudhakar V conceded 26 runs in his four-over spell, CK Prakash gave away 60 runs in four overs, and Alaguraja K bowled one over for 10 runs.

Chasing 188 for victory, NIT Puducherry were bowled out for 99 in 18.1 overs, handing NIT Srinagar a comprehensive 88-run victory.

Muthu top-scored for Puducherry with 41 off 34 balls, including seven boundaries. Murugapandi S remained unbeaten on 16 off 21 balls, while Ismail M made 10. Alaguraja K (6), Edwin Johnny Divy (4), Sudhakar V (3), Karthik N (3), CK Prakash (2), Gopinath A (2) and KavinNivak (1) failed to make significant contributions.

NIT Srinagar’s bowlers produced a clinical performance. Dr. Mohsin starred with figures of 3/13 in three overs, while Dr. Majid Hussain also claimed three wickets to finish with 3/26 in 3.1 overs. Dr. Shakeel Waseem took 2/26 in four overs, Mudasir Qadir returned figures of 1/6 in two overs, Shahid Hamid claimed 1/12 in four overs, and Dr. Manoj Kumar bowled two economical overs, conceding just 13 runs.

Suhail Baba was adjudged the Player of the Match for his outstanding all-round performance, scoring an unbeaten 64 off 32 balls and claiming one wicket.

The Best Batsman and Man of the Series awards were presented to Aaqib Sheikh of NIT Srinagar, who finished the tournament with 364 runs, including two centuries and one half-century. The Best Bowler award went to Ismail M of NIT Puducherry, who finished as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker with 11 wickets.

Akash Sharma of NIT Hamirpur was named the Best Fielder for effecting 14 dismissals during the tournament.

The award ceremony concluded with the presentation of trophies and mementoes to the winners, runners-up, match officials and dignitaries.

The tournament report was presented by the Observer, Dr. Prashant S. Nagrale of VNIT Nagpur, who commended NIT Srinagar for the successful conduct of the championship.

He praised the meticulous planning, seamless coordination, excellent hospitality and outstanding arrangements made by the host institute, expressing satisfaction with the professional management of the tournament and congratulating the organisers for hosting the event in a befitting manner.

The valedictory and prize distribution ceremony was attended by Registrar, NIT Srinagar, Prof. Atikur Rehman; Dean Faculty Welfare, Prof. Manzoor Ahmad Ahanger;  SAS Officer, Kowsar Ali Mir,  Deans, Heads of Departments (HoDs), Heads of Centres (HoCs), Chairpersons, Chairmen, faculty members, staff, members of the organising committee, and representatives from various sections of NIT Srinagar.

A felicitation ceremony was also held to honour dignitaries, officials, representatives of the participating institutes and sponsors, reflecting the warm hospitality and organisational excellence of NIT Srinagar.

The formal vote of thanks was delivered by Dr. Manoj Kumar, Faculty In-Charge of the Sports Activity Centre (SAS). He acknowledged the dedicated efforts of the organising committee, volunteers, officials, participating teams and support staff for ensuring the successful conduct of the championship.

He also expressed gratitude to the participating institutes, distinguished guests, sponsors and everyone associated with the successful organisation of the tournament.

The proceedings were conducted by Dr. Dinesh Kumar Rajendran, bringing the All India Inter-NIT Faculty & Staff Cricket Tournament (Men) 2026 to a memorable conclusion.

Earlier, NIT Hamirpur secured third place in the tournament after defeating NIT Jalandhar by 16 runs in the third-place playoff played at the Physical Education College Ground, Ganderbal.

Batting first, NIT Hamirpur posted 155/6 in 20 overs. Captain Surender Soni led from the front with 39 off 28 balls, while Manish contributed 36 off 24 deliveries, Vivek Tiwari scored 25 and Neeraj Dhiman added a quick 19 off just nine balls.

In reply, NIT Jalandhar were restricted to 139/7 in their allotted 20 overs despite useful contributions from Nitin Sharma (28), Avishek Singh (27) and Manjeet Singh (20 not out).

NIT Hamirpur’s bowlers produced a disciplined performance, with Aman Kumar and Surender Soni picking up two wickets each, while Manish and TP Sharma chipped in with one wicket apiece to seal a 16-run victory and secure third place in the tournament.

Srinagar : The University of Kashmir (KU) has secured first position at the National Level in the 17th National Youth Parliament Competition 2024–25 for Universities and Colleges, organised by the

Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs. The University was awarded the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Running Parliamentary Shield and Trophy by Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal, Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Law and Justice; and Minister of State in the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, during a ceremony held at the Parliament House Complex, New Delhi.

The KU team impressed the judges with its understanding of parliamentary procedures, constitutional values, and democratic traditions. The students also presented a repeat performance of their acclaimed Youth Parliament Sitting before dignitaries and participants from across the country.

Congratulating the team, Vice-Chancellor KU, Prof. Nilofer Khan, said, “This achievement is a matter of immense pride for the University and reflects the intellectual ability, preparation, and confidence of our students. Their performance shows a strong understanding of democratic institutions and constitutional values, which are essential for responsible citizenship.”

Registrar KU, Prof. Naseer Iqbal, appreciated the students and the Department of Students’ Welfare (DSW) for their dedicated efforts, noting that the achievement highlights the University’s continued focus on academic and co-curricular excellence.

Dean, DSW KU, Prof. Seema Singh, said that the competition provided students with a valuable platform to develop leadership, communication, and parliamentary skills, and added that their national-level success would inspire more students to participate in such academic forums.

The University congratulated the winning team and its mentor, Dr. Shahid Ali Khan, Cultural Officer, DSW, KU, for their dedication and efforts in preparing the award-winning Youth Parliament presentation, which brought national recognition to the University and the Union Territory.

Srinagar : :Hosts NIT Srinagar stormed into the final of the All-India Inter-NIT Faculty & Staff Cricket Tournament 2026 with a convincing four-wicket victory over NIT Jalandhar in the first semifinal, while NIT Puducherry secured the second berth in the title clash after defeating NIT Hamirpur by six wickets in the second semifinal played at the Physical College, Ganderbal.

The championship final will now be played between NIT Srinagar and NIT Puducherry on Wednesday, while NIT Hamirpur and NIT Jalandhar will face each other in the third-place playoff.

In the first semifinal, NIT Jalandhar won the toss and elected to bat. Opener Nitin Sharma was dismissed off the very first ball of the innings. Ravinder, Avishek Singh and Amritpal Singh also fell cheaply, leaving NIT Jalandhar struggling at 14/4 inside the opening four overs.

However, Saurabh Dinkar and Sourav Gupta staged an impressive recovery with a crucial partnership. Dinkar played a superb knock of 71 runs off 50 balls, hitting seven fours and three sixes, while Gupta contributed a well-compiled 56 off 44 deliveries with five boundaries. Their efforts helped NIT Jalandhar recover to a respectable total of 148/5 in 20 overs.

NIT Srinagar’s bowling attack remained disciplined throughout the innings. Dr. Mohsin starred with outstanding figures of 2 wickets for 15 runs in four overs. Mudasir Qadir and Dr. Majid Hussain claimed one wicket each, while Dr. Shakeel Waseem and Shahid Hamid bowled economical spells to keep the opposition under pressure.

In reply, NIT Srinagar produced a composed batting display to chase down the target, with Dr. Majid Hussain top-scoring with a well-crafted 32 off 24 balls, laced with five boundaries. Wicketkeeper-batter Sohail Baba remained unbeaten on 25 off just 13 deliveries, smashing four fours and a six, while Shahid Hamid made an important 26 off 18 balls, including three boundaries, to keep the chase firmly on track.

Earlier, Aaqib Sheikh provided NIT Srinagar with a blistering start, scoring 19 off 10 balls with the help of a four and a six. Dr. Pankaj Kumar remained unbeaten on 17, while captain Faisal Irshad contributed 12 runs. Dr.Ved Prakash (3) and Dr. Shakeel Waseem (2) also chipped in as NIT Srinagar reached 149/6 in 18.3 overs, sealing a convincing four-wicket victory with nine balls to spare and booking their place in the tournament final.

For NIT Jalandhar, Kundan Kumar impressed with figures of 3/20, while Rakesh Kumar and Satyender Singh picked up one wicket each.

In the second semifinal at the Physical College, Ganderbal, NIT Hamirpur posted 152/8 after being asked to bat. Neeraj Dhiman played a sensational innings of 80 runs off 46 balls, hammering seven fours and seven sixes, while Vivek Tiwari added a useful 31 to help Hamirpur cross the 150-run mark.

NIT Puducherry’s bowlers produced a disciplined effort, with Ismail M leading the attack by claiming 4 wickets for 20 runs, while Gowrishankar supported well with 2/16.

Chasing 153, NIT Puducherry dominated the run chase from the outset. Alaguraja K anchored the innings with a magnificent 67 off 43 balls, striking eight fours and four sixes, as his team comfortably reached 156/4 in 16.4 overs, sealing victory by six wickets with 20 balls remaining.

For NIT Hamirpur, Hemraj claimed 2 wickets for 26 runs, but his efforts were not enough to stop Puducherry’s march into the final.

Alaguraja K was named the Man of the Match for his match-winning knock of 67 off 43 balls, which guided NIT Puducherry to a comfortable six-wicket victory over NIT Hamirpur and secured their place in the tournament final.

Before the final, NIT Hamirpur and NIT Jalandhar will compete in the third-place playoff, with both matches scheduled to be held at NIT Srinagar.

Earlier in the day, NIT Puducherry booked their place in the semi-finals with a comprehensive 10-wicket victory over VNIT in the quarter-final.

VNIT were restricted to 105/9 in 20 overs, with Ismail M claiming 3/15, while Sudhakar V (2/19) and C.K. Prakash (2/26) provided excellent support.

In reply, openers Alaguraja K (71* off 38) and C.K. Prakash (26* off 23) stitched together an unbeaten 107-run stand as Puducherry chased down the target in just 10.1 overs.