Ramban, Sept 3 (JKNS): Chanderkote buzzed with quiet intensity on Thursday as 145 young minds from across the Jammu Province gathered for the grand finale of the Inter-District Division-Level Chess Competition.
Far beyond a simple battle of pawns and rooks, the event transformed into a celebration of strategy, patience and youthful ambition.
The energy in the hall drew notable leaders, including Anuradha Gupta, Director General of Youth Services & Sports, J&K and Mohammad Alyas Khan, Deputy Commissioner of Ramban. Their presence underscored the district Ramban’s shared commitment to building a robust sporting culture from the ground up.
Addressing an attentive crowd of players, coaches and officials, Anuradha Gupta shifted the focus from immediate victories to long-term mentorship.
She urged coaches and technical experts to look past single-event wins, calling instead for a sustained, nurturing approach that identifies raw talent early and guides it toward national and Union Territory platforms.
Speaking directly to the children, she offered a simple yet powerful piece of advice: dream big, stay curious and never hesitate to lean on teachers, parents and coaches for guidance. The DG congratulated all winners, runners-up, players, coaches and Technical Officials for their dedication and sporting spirit.
She also appreciated the efforts of the District Youth Services & Sports Officer Ramban Nazir Hussain, officers, officials, coaches, Technical Officials and field staff for the successful conduct of the event. The DG YSS called upon coaches and Technical Officials to carefully identify promising chess talent and nurture their skills through regular coaching, mentoring and guidance.
She emphasised that the knowledge gained through recently organised chess training programmes and seminars should be effectively passed on to young players.
She stressed the need for a long-term approach towards player development, urging coaches to prepare talented youngsters not merely for individual events but for competitions at divisional, UT and national levels.
Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Alyas Khan echoed these sentiments, celebrating the discipline and focus displayed by the participants and encouraging them to balance their passion for sports with academic excellence.
After intense rounds of tactical play across multiple age brackets, the final standings reflected a fierce contest between Jammu and Kathua districts. In the Under-14 Boys category, District Jammu emerged as the winners while District Kathua finished as the runners-up. In the Under-17 Boys category, District Jammu again claimed the top position as winners, with District Kathua securing the runners-up spot.
Meanwhile, the Under-19 Boys category saw District Kathua take the crown as winners, leaving District Jammu as the runners-up. Overall, District Jammu claimed top honors in the Under-14 and Under-17 divisions, while District Kathua captured the Under-19 title.
A tournament of this scale relies heavily on meticulous coordination. The Directorate credited the flawless execution of the event to the dedicated field staff and district leadership, including Zonal Physical Education Officers Mohammad Sadullah Mir, Fayaz Ahmed Mir, Mohammad Haroon Bhat and Omkar Singh Parihar, alongside physical education teachers, masters, and ground staff whose grassroots efforts kept the championship running smoothly.
As the boards were packed away and the trophies handed out, the tournament left behind more than just medals. It provided a springboard for emerging talent, reinforcing the belief that strategic thinking and quiet perseverance will pave the way for Jammu’s next generation of grandmasters. (JKNS)
