Ganderbal 29: The 2nd Edition of Government College of Physical Education (GCOPE) Ganderbal’s Annual Sports Festival was declared open by Chief Secretary J&K Dr Arun Kumar Mehta on Tuesday here.
The festival is being organised under the aegis of Department of Youth Services and Sports J&K.
Coinciding the National Sports Day, the 5 days festival shall conclude on 2nd September. The festival affirmed an impressive merger of 10 events covering Football (Men), Volleyball (Men & Women), Basketball (Men), Handball (Men), Tug-of-war (Men & Women), Kho-Kho (Women), Table-Tennis (Women) and Rauf competitions.
A participation of around 5000 students from 37 participant universities and colleges has doubled the importance of the yearly activity. Students of various schools of District Ganderbal also took-part in the inaugural function. The grand affair is being organized to provide a platform and stage to the students to showcase their sports talent and resourcefulness.
The inaugural function was attended by Dr Arun Kumar Mehta Chief Secretary of Jammu & Kashmir as chief guest in the presence of DDC Chairperson Ganderbal Nuzhat Ishfaq, Secretary to Government Youth Services & Sports Sarmad Hafeez,
Director Youth Services & Sports Subhash C Chibber, SSP Gandebal Nikhil Borker, Nuzhat Gull, Secretary J&K Sports Council, Waseem Raja Joint Director Kashmir of the Department of Youth Services and Sports, Mushtaq Ahmad, Additional District Development Commissioner Ganderbal & other dignitaries of Department of YS&S and various other Departments.
Welcome address was presented by the Director, Youth Services & Sports, J&K. He while sharing good wishes of the National Sports Day with the participants of the festival hoped that the talented youth of the UT will continue taking part in the activities of play with the same passion and zeal. He assured of full support to the youth and people of all ages who have interest in playing any sports. He also shared some encouraging participation figures in different sports activities organised by the Department of Youth Services and Sports J&K for the current year.
During the inaugural function Chief Secretary fortified and encouraged the students to understand their interests, abilities and challenges in sports and to integrate, sustainable development goals with Physical Education and Sports in the Curriculum.
March Past, Drug pledge and Cultural programmes were presented by the students of the colleges, officials of the Department of YSS, various schools of the district and police Department Ganderbal.
Dr. Hartej Singh, Principal Government College of Physical Education presented vote of thanks to all the dignitaries who expended their valuable time and made it possible for the college to organize the sports event at provincial level. He also praised all the officials, students, media persons and all other departments for making the event colourful and delightful with their presence.
Issued by
Media & Publicity Coordinator
Department of YSS J&K
