_ Principal Secretary YSS, Secretary Sports Council and many others laud the fabulous four._
Srinagar, 2nd May: In yet another first, four fencers from the union territory of J&K have qualified for the Senior World Cup. The fencers Vishal Thapar, Javed Ahmed Choudhary, Mayank Sharma and a promising ace fencer Shreya Gupta shall represent the country in the upcoming Senior Fencing Sabre World Cup later this month.
While the Men’s World Cup shall be held in Spain, the lone female qualifier Shreya shall be competing in Tunisia, North Africa. Both events are scheduled to be held later this week.
All the fencers made it to the cut on the basis of some outstanding performance in the National Championship and the ranking secured by them in 32nd Senior National Championship held at Amritsar in March this year.
Principal Secretary YSS Alok Kumar and Secretary J&K Sports Council, Nuzhat Gul applauded and congratulated the fencers on their selection to the Senior Fencing World Cup. Alok Kumar said that the Government of India has sanctioned one Fencing State Centre of Excellence at M.A Stadium Jammu which shall start functioning shortly moreover, adequate international standard Fencing equipment including high quality gymnasium besides, physiotherapy centre which has already been installed in Indoor Hall M.A Stadium, Jammu. The centre shall be the first of its kind centre of excellence. We are duty bound to provide best possible facilities to our youth who are second to none in skills and talent and the day is not far away when our athletes shall reach the podium of Olympics as well, he added.
Secretary Sports Council, in her message to fencers appreciated the hard work they put in while making their way to the prestigious event. I am sure the day is not far away when our fencers will be ranked and recognised internationally, she added. She also applauded the role of Shottu Llal Sharma, Fencing Coach of J&K Sports Council behind the scenes.
All the fencers are the products of Sports Council Fencing Coaching Centre, MA Stadium Jammu and have been training under the tutelage of Shottu Lal Sharma, an internationally reputed fencing coach of J&K Sports Council. Senior fencing Team has been cleared by Sports Authority India for participation in the event and all the expenses of the event shall be borne by the government.
Convener Adhoc Committee, J&K Amateur Fencing Association while thanking Secretary, J&K Sports Council for providing world class equipment and infrastructure in the UT of J&K reiterated that this endeavor will only aid in producing more and more fencers of international caliber.
