Growing sports infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir boosts youth participation in the UT

Jammu and Kashmir has seen steady improvement in sports infrastructure in recent years. Stadiums have been upgraded, training facilities have improved, and more support is being provided to encourage young people to take up sports. These efforts are showing results, as athletes from the region are now performing well at the national level.

A recent example is the strong performance of the Taekwondo Association of Jammu and Kashmir at the 2nd Federation Cup in Jaipur, where the team won 23 medals, including 6 gold and 9 silver, competing against teams from across the country.

Against this positive background, the 14th Police Martyrs Memorial North Zone T20 Cricket Championship 2026 was successfully held at the Sports Stadium, Kathua. The tournament highlighted the role of sports in social reform and youth development.

The championship is organised every year to honour police personnel who lost their lives while serving the nation. By involving the families of martyrs and presenting awards in their names, the event promotes patriotism and respect for the sacrifices made by security forces.

One of the main goals of the tournament was to keep young people away from drug addiction. Before most matches, players and officials took a collective anti-drug pledge, clearly conveying a zero-tolerance message against narcotics. Addressing the gathering, ADGP M.K. Sinha urged young people to stay away from drugs and actively participate in sports. He said that alert citizens and strong security forces would continue to counter militancy and narcotics smuggling from across the border.

He also spoke about the challenges in border areas connected with Punjab and Pakistan and praised the security forces for responding firmly to such threats. He paid tribute to personnel who sacrificed their lives while fighting militancy.

The final match was played between Haryana Cricket Club and Shiva Cricket Club, Ludhiana, with Haryana Cricket Club emerging as the winners. The trophy presentation ceremony was attended by ADGP Police M.K. Sinha, the chief guest, along with DIG Shiv Kumar Sharma.

Haryana Cricket Club received a cash prize of ₹3.50 lakh, while the runner-up team was awarded ₹2.50 lakh. The Man of the Series was rewarded with an Alto car, while the Man of the Match and Best Player received motorcycles.

Cricketer Shivam Verma shared that the tournament is eagerly awaited every year. He said his team had participated for the third consecutive year and had reached the final multiple times.

"Playing alongside IPL and Ranji Trophy players offers a valuable learning experience". Expressing respect for fallen martyrs, he said "their sacrifices are deeply honoured by the players and the sporting community".