Khelo India Winter Games will celebrate & honour sporting excellence says LG Sinha
The 3rd edition of the Khelo India National Winter Games started in Gulmarg with the message of the Honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to the participating players.
The mega sporting event was opened in the presence of Honorable J&K Deputy Governor Shri Manoj Sinha and Honorable Union Minister for Youth Affairs & Sport and I&B Shri Anurag Thakur.
At the largest winter sports tournament, more than 1500 athletes from all over the country compete in 11 different winter sports disciplines.
Union Sports Minister Shri Anurag Thakur commended the J&K government for developing sports facilities at scale and achieving unprecedented progress in the sports sector in a short period of time.
We are very proud of what Jammu and Kashmir has accomplished in the sporting world in just three years. Indoor stadiums have been built in every district and every village has a playground. Where stone throwing used to take place, football, wushu and various sports are now played. This is the picture of the new Jammu Kashmir, he added.
The Union Minister pledged full support and cooperation in the development of the UT Winter Games Competence Center.
It is Honorable Prime Minister Shri Nareandra Modi ji’s vision to create a sporting infrastructure across India. Establishing a national center of excellence in the valley will support J&K athletes, he said.
In his address, Lt. Governor Shri Manoj Sinha: The message and blessings of Honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji to the players attending the 3rd Khelo India National Winter Games will encourage and inspire them.
The Khelo India Winter Games will celebrate and honor sporting excellence and witness the skill and endurance competitions of the athletes. It is a great opportunity to strive for the greatest victory, to maintain the spirit of sportsmanship, peace, equality, friendship and respect for competitors. The spirit of unity, Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat will make us stronger, said the Lt. Governor.
“The dream of the 3rd Winter Games is uniting the whole country at the moment. Each participating player will become the best ambassador of J&K. With the spirit of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’, this sporting spectacle will strengthen the bond of goodwill and unite all players as one family,” said the Lt. governors.
On behalf of the people of J&K, Lt. Governor welcomed the players, officials and sports enthusiasts and invited all guests who had traveled from all corners of the country to enjoy the hospitality of J&K, enjoy the games and enjoy the incredible sights and sounds of Jammu Kashmir.
The Lieutenant Governor also highlighted the change in J&K sports culture under the Honorable Prime Minister’s leadership.
In recent years, J&K has given the country many sporting heroes. Continued efforts by the UT government to develop world-class sports infrastructure and facilities in every corner of UT, a vibrant sports culture, and a sports budget on par with larger states have added a new dimension to J&K’s sports sector, said the Lt. Governor.
The well-being of the athletes is our top priority. Special efforts are made to provide a decent life for our athletes and to encourage young people to choose sport as a career. The participation of more than 50,000 young people in various sporting events over the past year is a testament to this commitment, he added.
With the help of the Union Ministry of Sport, we will work to establish a center of excellence for the Winter Games. The location has already been identified. Every effort is made to provide opportunities for athletes to excel in their careers, Lt. governor.
On this occasion, Lt. Union Governor and Sports Minister 40 Khelo India Centers across Jammu Kashmir via email. The centers are dedicated to all aspiring J&K UT athletes.
Sh Sarmad Hafeez, Secretary, Youth Affairs & Sports J&K and Ms Nuzhat Gul, Secretary, J&K Sports Council shared the achievements of the J&K UT in the domestic and international sports arena.
Sh Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar, Advisor to the Lt. governors; dr Arun Kumar Mehta, Principal Secretary; Lt. Gen. Amardeep Singh Aujla, GOC, 15th Corps; Representatives of various sports organizations, prominent sports personalities and sports lovers witnessed the opening ceremony.