Jammu, Sep 24: Months after the notification of the operational rules by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in May this year, the National Sports Governance Act and the National Sports Tribunal Act are yet to see implementation on the ground in Jammu and Kashmir.

However, the Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council has already classified functional and non-functional sports associations for the smooth conduct of activities across the union Territory.
The union Government notified the National Sports Governance (National Sports Board) Rules, 2026 and the National Sports Governance (National Sports Tribunal) Rules, 2026 under the National Sports Governance Act, 2025 to regulate sports bodies and fast-track dispute resolutions.
Official sources said that around 56 sports bodies were previously affiliated with the Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council (JKSC), but due to the callous approach of a few, the governing body took a final call and filtered the functional and non-functional units.
"Out of the total bodies recognised earlier, presently, 41 are functional and seven are completely defunct," they said.
They added that a few were de-recognised after their national federations/associations landed in disputes, while the remaining were not recognised either for failing to conduct timely elections or due to ongoing legal battles.
"All such associations were identified and, in view of the disputes, the J&K Sports Council is conducting in-house activities to pave the way for athletes to participate in various national-level competitions," they added.
"J&K Sports Council was dissolved last year and, as the Governing Council at present is non-existent, several decisions, including implementation of the National Sports Governance Act and the National Sports Tribunal Act, besides recognition/affiliation of sports bodies that have conducted fresh elections, are pending," they said.
Sharing details of the functional associations, they said that the 41 identified associations, as per J&K Sports Council records, included Archery Association of J&K, J&K Billiards & Snooker Association, Body Building Association Jammu & Kashmir, J&K Cycling Association, J&K Amateur Fencing Association, J&K Gymnastics Association, J&K Amateur Kabaddi Association, J&K State Kho-Kho Association, Amateur Karate-Do Association of J&K, J&K Lawn Tennis Association, Netball Association of Jammu and Kashmir, J&K Table Tennis Association, J&K Taekwondo Association, Volleyball Association of J&K, Wushu Association of J&K, All J&K Sports Association of the Deaf, J&K Rifle Association, Rollball Association of J&K, J&K Amateur Soft Tennis Association, J&K Ball Badminton Association, All J&K Chess Association, J&K Cycle Polo Association, J&K Carrom Association, Hockey J&K, J&K Handball Association, J&K Squash Rackets Association, J&K Tenni-Koit Association, J&K Tennisball Cricket Association, J&K Thang-Ta Association, J&K Water Skiing Association, Winter Games Association of J&K, J&K Rugby Association, Pencak Silat Association of J&K, J&K Amateur Athletic Association, J&K Badminton Association, J&K Judo Association, J&K Amateur Boxing Association, J&K Wrestling Association, Mountaineering Association of J&K, J&K Weightlifting Association and J&K Association for Rowing & Sculling.
However, sources said that as many as seven sports associations were currently non-functional and had been declared defunct by the J&K Sports Council for various reasons.
Further divulging the details, they said that the J&K Cricket Association was de-recognised for the purpose of grants, while the J&K Horse Polo Association and J&K Indian Style Wrestling Association were categorised as defunct.
The activities of the latter were taken over by the Wrestling Association of J&K.
The J&K Korfball Association was also categorised as defunct as elections to the J&K unit have been overdue for a long time due to issues concerning the National Sports Federation (NSF).
The association was earlier de-recognised but has now been restored by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS).
"The association has now approached for elections," they added.
Official sources further said that the J&K Olympic Association had also been de-recognised due to non-implementation of the Sports Code, while the J&K Powerlifting Association was declared defunct after recognition of its national body was suspended.
The J&K Golf Association was also among the defunct bodies, as its last elections were conducted on June 13, 2016, and the body had remained non-functional for a long time.
The Jammu and Kashmir Roller Sports Association was categorised as de-recognised as its activities were being conducted in-house by J&K Sports Council.
The association was de-recognised by the General Council in its 56th meeting, while new elections were conducted on May 17, 2026.
Meanwhile, de-recognised in the 56th General Council meeting, election notices have already been issued to the J&K Swimming Association and J&K Softball Association, while the associated activities are being conducted in-house as per the 134th Standing Committee decision, they added.
The associations whose activities are being conducted in-house are J&K Basketball Association, J&K Football Association, J&K Yogasana Sports Association, J&K Kayaking & Canoeing Association, J&K Veterans Athletic Association and J&K Baseball Association, whose recognition is under consideration before the sub-committee as its recognition was suspended in 2020.
Notably, the term of the Governing Council of the J&K Sports Council, as per the 2022 government order, came to an end on June 27, 2025, after completion of its three-year term.