Commissioner Secretary Youth Services and Sports, Yasha Mudgal declared open the 69th National School Games in Taekwondo Under-19 Boys category at Indoor Sports Complex Bhagwati Nagar here today.

Addressing a large gathering of players on the occasion, the Commissioner Secretary said that the attitude of talented athletes consistently transforms challenges into triumphs, embodying determination and resilience at every turn. She added that Sports and games, apart from promoting physical fitness, play a crucial role in nurturing mental, moral, and emotional well-being, contributing to the holistic developments to of one’s personality.

Yasha Mudgal emphasized that sports play a pivotal role in fostering unity, friendship, and understanding among young people from diverse regions across the country.

“Sports build bridges of unity and friendship. I am delighted to be here with you at the inauguration of the 69th National School Games. It gives me immense pleasure, on behalf of myself, my colleagues, and people of Jammu and Kashmir, to warmly welcome all of you to this prestigious tournament,” she said.

The Commissioner Secretary assured the participants of full support from the government and the organizers, adding that every effort would be made to ensure their comfort, safety, and well-being.

While extending her wishes to participants, the Commissioner Secretary said, “As the saying goes, winning is not as important as taking part. I sincerely admire your enthusiasm and dedication in coming here to compete,”.

Earlier, Director General of Youth Services and Sports, Anuradha Gupta, in her welcome address stated that the department had made all necessary arrangements to host the event in a fitting and well-organized manner, assuring that no stone would be left unturned to ensure the comfort and safety of the visiting athletes.

Pertinently, this grand sporting spectacle brings together 34 teams, representing diverse States, Union Territories, and Organizations from all corners of the country, reflecting unity, teamwork, and the true essence of competitiveness.

The impressive march past by the 34 participating teams drew appreciation from the Commissioner Secretary and applause from a large gathering of spectators present at the venue. Players, coaches, and team officials also took an oath of sportsmanship, pledging to uphold the values of fair play, discipline, and teamwork while preserving the sanctity and spirit of sports.

Meanwhile, Jammu & Kashmir began the championship in fine style, with Nasir ul Islam delivering his rival from Telangana in the quarterfinals to seal berth in the semi-finals, thus ensuring medal.

In other results of the day, NVS defeated Odisha, Bihar outplayed Jharkhand, Telangana triumphed over Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu overcame West Bengal, Assam prevailed against CISCE, Haryana beat Himachal Pradesh, Mizoram defeated Vidya Bharati, CBSE outclassed Maharashtra, Delhi edged past Karnataka, Andhra outperformed IPSC, KVS beat Goa, Uttarakhand won against Kerala, and Gujarat triumphed over Rajasthan.