Srinagar, Aug 6: The Directorate of Physical Education and Sports (DPES), University of Kashmir (KU) on Thursday commenced the Inter-Department Football and Table Tennis Tournaments for Men, marking the start of a series of sporting events aimed at identifying emerging talent from across the University's teaching departments and satellite campuses.

The tournaments have drawn an enthusiastic response, with 19 teams participating in football and 15 teams competing in table tennis.
The competitions are being organised to provide students with a competitive platform to showcase their sporting skills and earn selection for the University's teams in forthcoming Inter-College, North Zone and All India Inter-University Championships.
The opening football fixture between the Department of Media Education Research Centre (MERC) and the Department of Tourism, Hospitality and Leisure Studies produced an exciting contest. Both teams were locked at 2-2 at the end of regulation time before the Department of Tourism, Hospitality and Leisure Studies clinched a 2-1 victory in the penalty shootout.
In another match, the Department of Computer Sciences defeated the Department of History by 3-1 to advance in the tournament.
Speaking on the occasion, Director, DPES, Prof. Raies Qadri, lauded the enthusiasm and sporting spirit displayed by the participants.
He said sports play a vital role in shaping responsible citizens by instilling the values of discipline, dedication, perseverance and mutual respect.
Prof. Qadri also noted that the impressive performance of Indian athletes at the recently concluded Commonwealth Games has inspired the sporting community across the country.
He announced that the Directorate would organise several more inter-departmental and inter-collegiate tournaments in the coming weeks to provide greater competitive exposure to student-athletes.
The tournaments are being coordinated by Assistant Directors Dr. Basharat Ali and Tausif Bhat, Football Coach Sajid Dar, and Sports Assistant Surjeet Kour.