Jammu and Kashmir's new Sports Policy aims to benefit young talent

Similarly, over a dozen youngsters, including a minor boy, who is just nine-year-old, from Central Kashmir’ Ganderbal district, have brought laurels to the nation as they have managed to secure top ranks in the recently concluded 7th south Asian SQAY championship held at Kathmandu Nepal.

There was a time when the people in Kashmir used to keep their beloved within the four walls in view of the volatile situation, but the time has changed as the parents are now happy to give wings to their children, who are making the country proud and also paving way for their bright future as well.

In one such instance, Aabid Aijaz, an nine-year-old boy, studying in Class 3rd, has been proving his metal in SQAY sport as in just a one-year training, he has been able to compete in the national championship as well as in the recently concluded 7th south Asian SQAY championship.

Aijaz Ahmad Shah, his father said that he is quite happy and a proud father that he has been able to find a talent within his son.

“I am here for his support and will ensure that he touches the sky and makes it to something big in the sport,” he said.

Shah said that Aabid, his son, started his journey in SQAY almost in 2021, when he uploaded his short clip video on Whatsapp.

“Saleem Pathan, who is a teacher by profession, went through my status and asked me to visit him along with my son. It was during Covid when I met Saleem with my son. Saleem is a professional SQAY player, who found the hidden talent within my son and assured me that he will flourish his talent further,” Shah said.

“It has been one and a half year now, Aabid is getting training from Saleem,” he said, adding that in a short span of training, Aabid has participated in two Championships including National SQAY Championship held in Jammu last year and 7th south Asian SQAY championship held at Kathmandu Nepal. “In both the Championships, my son has bagged silver medals, which is a proud moment for me as well as for my family,” he said.

He appealed to parents to help their beloved in choosing their career in life, saying that every child is blessed with a different talent, but there is a need to identify it and help them to touch the heights with the active support of the parents.

Saleem Pathana, a professional SQAY Coach, also shared his joy and happiness of the achievement by the young players from Ganderbal and elsewhere in J&K, who managed to secure medals in the 7th south Asian SQAY championship.

“I am blessed. I have no words to explain my joy as the youngsters, instead of getting indulged in bad habits, are proving their metal and making their parents and the society proud,” he said.

A total of 56 players from J&K participated in 7th South Asian SQAY championship while 80 per cent among them have managed to secure medals.

“In Ganderbal district alone, a total of 12 youngsters participated and all among them have bagged the medals including three silver and nine gold,” he said.

Speaking over the achievement, Saleem said he started training youngsters from 2000, but in the last couple of years, the enthusiasm has increased among the youngsters—both boys and girls.

“More and more youngsters are joining since the government introduced a new sports policy. The competition is getting tough, but the interest of youngsters has increased manifold,” he said and the parents, unlike the past, are now showing their keen interests towards their children’s participation in the games.

“As the flow of youngsters towards games is increasing, there is a need to come up with more infrastructure. We are expecting a further boost from the administration’s side as the youngsters are eyeing to make their nation proud. As the number of Indoor stadiums have been increased, we demand the government to ensure the availability of Indoor stadiums in every block so that the youngsters would be assisted further to showcase and flourish their talent,” he said.