Srinagar, June 11: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday attended the closing ceremony of the ALFA HOCKEY Inter-School Tournament-2026 at Synthetic Hockey Astro Turf, Polo Ground Srinagar.
The tournament brought together participants from 32 schools across various districts, including Kupwara, Bandipora, Kulgam and Shopian.
In his address, the Lieutenant Governor congratulated all the winners and participants for their remarkable display of skills and talent during the tournament.
He appreciated the collaborative efforts of J&K Sports Council, Badal Hockey Club and Hockey Jammu & Kashmir for providing a powerful platform, celebrating the spirit and passion of young athletes across the region.
“This tournament aimed for something beyond the scoreboard. It provided a transformative stage for our talented children to realize their true athletic potential,” he said.
Sinha highlighted that over the last few years, Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed a remarkable transformation in hockey.
He stated that the investments in sports infrastructure, grassroots competitions and community engagement have successfully enhanced the popularity of the sport across the Union Territory.
“It is our aim to see more schools and more young players take up hockey in the coming years and establish Jammu Kashmir as a cradle for world-class hockey talent. We are building a talent pipeline in Jammu Kashmir that will ensure a player's journey from the school level to the regional level, and national stage,” he said.
“In recent years, synthetic hockey turfs at Polo View Srinagar, Pulwama and Poonch have opened up new avenues for aspiring players from cities, border districts and remote areas. State-of-the-art synthetic hockey turfs are currently under construction at Bandhu Rakh and K.K. Hakku Stadium in Jammu. These projects will significantly expand the capacity for advanced training, specialized coaching camps, and rigorous talent identification programs, establishing a sustainable foundation for future national players,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
He reiterated that it is our constant endeavor to provide opportunities and resources for the young talent, enabling them to move forward and contribute to building a Viksit Bharat.
“From the Ranji Trophy Championship to the 'Nasha Mukt J&K' campaigns, the exceptional dedication of our youth has already been proven across various arenas. I am proud of their spirit and I want our youth's contribution to nation-building to be second to none,” Sinha said.
Prof. Mohammad Mobin, Vice Chancellor Cluster University Srinagar; Dr. Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, Commissioner Secretary, Youth Services and Sports; Rajiv Omprakashn DIG CKR; Dr. GV Sundeep Chakravarthy, SSP Srinagar; Akshay Labroo, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar; Ms Nuzhat Gul, Secretary J&K Sports Council; S. Harmeet Singh Sasan, President and other members of Badal Hockey Club; senior officials, eminent sports personalities, coaches, students and teachers from various schools were present.