The championship was held from 28th July to 31st July 2026 under the supervision and collaboration of the Youth Services and Sports Department and Soft Tennis Khelo Centre Jammu,J&K Sports Council.

The tournament was organized as per SGFI guidelines and featured competitions in Under-14, Under-17 and Under-19 categories for both boys and girls.

The event witnessed intense matches and spirited performances throughout the four days. In the Under-19 Boys category, Madhavendra Singh Sambyal clinched the gold medal with an impressive display of skill and temperament. In the Under-17 Boys category, Aditya Dutt Sharma emerged as the gold medalist while HarikeshDutt Sharma secured the silver medal and Ayansh Khajuria bagged the bronze medal.

In the girls’ section, Abhiyana Khajuria won the gold medal in the Under-19 category, showcasing excellent control and court coverage. Lavanya Thakur clinched the gold medal in the Under-17 Girls category with consistent and confident play. The Under-14 Girls category saw promising young players in action with Swadhi Sharma winning the gold medal, Advika Kotwal securing the silver medal and Sanvi Parihar earning the bronze medal.

All the medal winners have qualified to represent Jammu District in the upcoming UT-level SGFI Soft Tennis Tournament.

The officials present on the occasion appreciated the dedication of the players and the efforts of coaches and supporting staff. They stated that such championships provide an important platform for the school students to showcase their talent and also help in identifying potential players for higher-level competitions.

The Youth Services and Sports Department along with the J&K Sports Council and Soft Tennis Khelo Centre Jammu reiterated their commitment to promote soft tennis in the region and provide necessary training and facilities to young athletes.

The championship concluded with a prize distribution ceremony where medals and certificates were presented to the winners in presence of officials, coaches and representatives from participating schools.

The directions were issued during a high-level review meeting convened to deliberate upon the challenges confronting the willow sector and to formulate a long-term roadmap for its revival and growth.

The meeting was attended by Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, J&K, Sarvesh Rai; Chief Conservator of Forests, Kashmir, Irfan Rasool Wani besides senior officers of the Forest Department and other concerned departments.

Addressing the meeting, the Minister observed that Kashmir occupies a unique position as the country’s only source of the specialised willow wood used for manufacturing cricket bats, making the region the national hub of the cricket bat industry. He said that hundreds of manufacturing units, predominantly located in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, provide direct and indirect employment to thousands of people engaged in willow cultivation, timber trade and bat manufacturing.

Rana expressed concern over the declining availability of quality willow timber, describing it as one of the biggest challenges confronting the cricket bat industry. He attributed the shortage to the indiscriminate felling of mature willow trees without adequate replantation, resulting in uncertainty in raw material supply and increased production costs for local manufacturers.

“The declining availability of willow timber is a matter of serious concern. Expansion of plantations, introduction of improved willow clones and systematic replantation must become a priority so that the industry continues to flourish without facing any shortages of raw material,” Rana asserted.

The Minister also noted that the area under willow plantations has witnessed a steady decline, particularly on private lands, owing to changing land-use patterns. He stressed that unless timely corrective measures are taken, the long-term sustainability of the industry could be adversely affected.

He called upon the Forest Department to identify suitable low-lying and marshy areas across the Valley for expanding willow plantations, in coordination with the Deputy Commissioners.

It was decided that the State Forest Research Institute (SFRI) will introduce improved willow species and clones and ensure the availability of quality planting material to enhance productivity and sustainability.

“Our objective is to build a self-sustaining willow cultivation ecosystem through scientific management, quality planting material, identification of new plantation areas and greater farmer participation. This will secure livelihoods while preserving Kashmir’s unique position as the country’s cricket bat manufacturing hub,” asserted the Minister.

The Agriculture Department was directed to identify the departmental farms and research blocks for raising quality willow planting material to support large-scale plantation drives.

The meeting also deliberated upon scientific management and expansion of government willow plantations, timely disposal of mature and over-mature trees to augment raw material availability, streamlining of the permission system for felling and transportation of willow timber, branding and Geographical Indication (GI) tagging for Kashmir willow bats. Emphasis was also laid on stronger coordination among the Forest, Agriculture, Industries & Commerce, MSME and allied departments to prepare a long-term roadmap for the sector.

Rana directed the concerned departments to work in close coordination and submit a time-bound action plan for implementation of the decisions taken. He stressed that revival of willow resources is vital not only for the cricket bat industry but also for the livelihoods of thousands of families dependent on it.

Simultaneous divisional trials began in Srinagar and Jammu, with selected players set to advance to the UT-level selection camp in Srinagar next week.

As many as 248 from Kashmir division and 127 from Jammu division have registered themselves. The first day of divisional trials was held simultaneously at the Synthetic Turf Football Stadium, TRC, Srinagar for Kashmir division players and at the Mini Stadium Synthetic Turf, Parade Ground, Jammu for Jammu division players. Divisional trials continue on the second day, 1 August 2026, at the same venues.

Players selected at the divisional stage will proceed to UT level selection trials at the Synthetic Turf Football Stadium, TRC, Srinagar on 3 and 4 August 2026. The trials are open to boys born between 1 January 2011 and 31 December 2012 who are residents of Jammu and Kashmir.

The players reported in full playing kit and carried original birth certificates issued by the Municipal Corporation or competent authority, Aadhaar cards updated with recent photographs, and passport-sized photographs for verification process.

The selected players at UT level will undergo a coaching camp in Srinagar, with the final squad announced before the team’s screening and departure. In accordance with AIFF guidelines, selected players may be required to undergo Bone Age Verification Tests.

The championship was organised by the District Pulwama Lawn Tennis Association under the banner of the Jammu & Kashmir Lawn Tennis Association, in collaboration with the J&K Sports Council.

Additional Superintendent of Police, Shafat Sahib, graced the closing ceremony as Chief Guest. The Guests of Honour included Additional Deputy Commissioner Awantipora,  Sajad Yahya Naqash, Tehsildar Rajpora,  Muneer Hussain Khan, Principal, Government Degree College Rajpora, Gulam Mohideen, and Incharge Indoor Hall Rajpora, Mohd. Iqbal Sheikh. The dignitaries congratulated all participating players for their discipline, sportsmanship, and performances across the two days.

They appreciated the efforts of the organisers in taking lawn tennis to the grassroots and encouraged young athletes to keep pursuing excellence in sport.

Secretary, District Pulwama Lawn Tennis Association,  Faizan Ahmad Shah, along with other members of the Association, thanked the distinguished guests, participating players, coaches, officials, volunteers, and supporters for making the championship a success.

The championship closed with the distribution of trophies, medals, and certificates to winners and runners-up, applauded by players, officials, and spectators. The event reaffirmed the commitment of all stakeholders to nurturing talent and promoting lawn tennis in District Pulwama.

Commending their dedication, discipline and consistent achievements, the Deputy Commissioner said the young athletes had brought laurels to Jammu district through their remarkable performances on competitive platfor He expressed confidence that their success would inspire more youngsters to pursue sports and excel at higher levels.

As a mark of appreciation, Dr Minhas presented the two sportspersons with a cash reward of ₹5,000 each and wished them success in their future sporting endeavours.

Kanhaiya Choudhary and Jiya Choudhary, children of Ajay Choudhary and Rekha Choudhary of Bishnah have emerged as two outstanding athletes with an impressive record in national and international competitions.

In 2025, Jiya won silver medals at the 20th National Matsogi Do Championship and the Khelo India Asmita Kickboxing Zonal League. In 2026, she secured a gold medal at the 2nd PTF India Open International Championship, besides winning bronze medals at the 1st India Open International Kickboxing Cup and the 3rd International Matsogi Do Championship held in New Delhi.

Kanhaiya has also delivered commendable performances across various championships. In 2025, he won bronze medals at the 28th District Jammu Taekwondo Championship and the 20th National Qwan Ki Do Championship. In 2026, he clinched gold medals at the India Open International Taekwondo Championship and the International Matsogi Do Championship, further enhancing the district’s sporting reputation.

Kathua :The District Badminton Tournament Kathua 2026, organised by the District Administration Kathua under the NashaMukt Bharat Abhiyan, entered its final stage Wednesday  at the Indoor Stadium, Kathua, with the conduct of semi-final matches across all major categories.

The tournament has received an enthusiastic response from players across the district, with nearly 200 matches played over the past few days, showcasing talent, discipline and sportsmanship.

The finalists in different categories are Sunshine Gupta and Saanvi (U-14 Girls Singles); Abhiraj and Saksham Singh (U-14 Boys Singles); Aaradhay/Arsh and Dheerya/Aarav (U-14 Boys Doubles); Priyanshi Sharma and Manyata (U-19 Girls Singles and Women’s Singles); Priyanshi& Sunshine and Manvir Kaur & Kanika (U-19 Girls Doubles); Aniket Sharma and Daksh Singh (U-19 Boys Singles); Saksham Sharma/Daksh Singh and AnirudherJasrotia/Raghav Sharma (U-19 Boys Doubles) and Abhijeet Jasrotia and Manik (Men’s Singles).

The Men’s Doubles and Veteran Men’s Doubles events are still in progress. One Men’s Doubles pair, Shubham Sharma and Kulbandhu, has already secured a berth in the final, while the remaining Men’s Doubles semi-final and the Veteran Men’s Doubles matches are yet to be played.

A special highlight of the tournament was the anti-drug pledge administered to all participating players, who pledged to remain drug-free and encourage others to adopt sports as a way of life, reinforcing the message “Choose Sports, Not Drugs” in line with the objectives of the NashaMukt Bharat Abhiyan.

The District Administration Kathua is organising the tournament to encourage a sports culture among the youth and provide a platform for budding players to showcase their talent, and to spread the message of a healthy, active and drug-free lifestyle.

The Council has invited talented and eligible young footballers from across Jammu and Kashmir to participate in the trials. Division-level selection trials will be held on 31st July and 1st August 2026 at Mini Stadium Synthetic Turf, Parade Ground, Jammu for players from the Jammu Division, and at Synthetic Turf Football Stadium, TRC, Srinagar for players from the Kashmir Division.

The final UT-level selection trials for shortlisted players from both divisions will take place on 3rd and 4th August 2026 at the TRC Football Stadium, Srinagar. The notification states that players born between 1 January 2011 and 31 December 2012 are eligible to participate. Applicants must be residents of Jammu & Kashmir and are required to produce their original birth certificate, Aadhaar card with a recent photograph, and two passport-size photographs along with photocopies of all documents for verification.

Participants have been instructed to report in complete playing kit, including jersey, shorts, stockings, shin guards and football boots. No TA/DA will be provided for attending the trials. Players selected at the UT level will undergo a coaching camp in Srinagar before the final squad is announced.

Selected players may also be required to undergo Bone Age Verification Tests as per AIFF guidelines. The J&K Sports Council has encouraged aspiring footballers to make the most of this opportunity to earn a place in the Union Territory team and showcase their talent at the national level.

Kolkata :The lush green farmlands of Haryana are known for producing an assembly line of world class wrestlers and kabaddi stars.

However, in recent years, the ‘land of pehlwans’ has given birth to star performers in another power packed sport – rugby. One of the brightest of these is Team India star Mohit Khatri.

Hailing from Kundli village in the Sonipat district of Haryana, Mohit was introduced to rugby by his elder brother Vikas Khatri – a former Team India captain – when he was in class 6.

“I used to play football with my friends during the weekends. One day, my brother decided to take me with him to rugby practice,” Mohit recounted.

For the pre-teen Mohit, his tryst with rugby turned out to be a case of love at first sight. “At first, I did not even know the game properly – its rules and format. I just used to enjoy playing the game. Soon, rugby became a daily habit. I never realised when I fell in love with the game, when I started to play at the professional level and when I started wearing the India jersey.”

His love for the game eventually took Mohit to a rugby club called Delhi Hurricanes in the national capital where his elder brother Vikas used to train.

“My journey in rugby started from there. The coaches at Delhi Hurricanes taught me the basics of the game and I gradually started playing at the club and state levels,” Mohit said.

His initial forays at the competitive level did not bring too much success for Mohit as he endured successive defeats in multiple tournaments. These defeats eventually started to hurt his prestige and those of his teammates which sparked a turnaround in his career.

“Eventually, these defeats started to rankle in our minds. We got fed up with losing and realised that we need to work harder in order to improve. As a result, I won my first medal – gold at the School Nationals in 2015,” he said.

Things got rolling from there and 2015 turned out to be a breakout year for Mohit as he represented Haryana at the state level before earning his maiden call-up to the Indian team.

“Both SAI and the national rugby federation has helped me a lot. I have got a job in the postal department through the sports quota thanks to the government and the federation. SAI meanwhile, is sponsoring the Indian team by providing excellent training facilities, boarding and diet so that we can perform to the best of our abilities while wearing the national jersey,” he said.

Meanwhile, Team India coach Paul Albaladejo is confident that rugby has bright future in the country, asserting that players like Mohit are crucial to his plans.

“Mohit is a very skilful player with lots of pace. His leadership skills on the field is crucial, specially against superior opponents or when the team is facing a difficult situation,” the Frenchman said.

With the Indian team gearing up for the Asia Rugby Sevens Series 2026, Mohit is upbeat about the future.

“We still have to improve in order to catch up with the big boys in Asia, such as Japan and China. However, with the federation coming up with initiatives like the Rugby Premier League and SAI providing us with top class facilities, we are slowly but surely closing the gap,” he asserted.

“My aim is to qualify for the Olympics. Wearing the national jersey at the biggest sporting spectacle on the planet and hearing the national anthem being played is the biggest high that a sportsman can experience.”

For now, Albaladejo is completely focused on the Asia Rugby Sevens Series 2026, which begins in Suzhou, China on August 29.

“India does not have a very strong culture. But once the national team starts doing well, specially in the bigger tournaments, the game will become more popular,” he said.

“Rugby culture will start to develop once we can hold our own against the big boys.”

The championship drew strong participation from young athletes who competed in Wushu and Kabaddi events over both days. Organisers reported high enthusiasm throughout, with competitors demonstrating technical skill, discipline and sportsmanship across every round.

The closing ceremony was attended by Ajaz Hassan, Incharge, Indoor Stadium Handwara, who distributed medals and certificates to winners and participants.

Speaking at the ceremony, Ajaz Hassan appreciated the efforts of participants, coaches, officials and organisers who made the championship a success. He urged the young athletes to keep training and to take part in more competitions in pursuit of excellence in sports.

The championship was organised under the My Youth My Pride initiative, which promotes sports participation, fitness and youth engagement across the region. The organisers reaffirmed their commitment to creating further opportunities for young athletes in the district.

The tournaments were conducted in various disciplines including volleyball, kabaddi, kho-kho, basketball and karate, witnessing enthusiastic participation of athletes from different zones of the district.

The event aims to finalise district-level teams in various sports disciplines for participation in upcoming Union Territory and national-level competitions, while simultaneously promoting sports as a positive avenue for youth engagement and a healthy, drug-free lifestyle.

Officials of the Department of Youth Services and Sports were present on the occasion and encouraged the participants to actively pursue sports and contribute towards building a fit, disciplined and drug-free society.

On the occasion, the participants also took part in the NashaMukt pledge, to mark their support to the NashaMukt Jammu & Kashmir Abhiyan and to stay away from drugs and spread awareness against substance abuse in their communities.