PEERZADA SAYEED
KUPWARA: In its continuous efforts to empower and boost the spirit of sports among women of Kupwara and to provide them a platform to explore their talent, Indian Army in collaboration with a Pune based NGO, ASEEM FOUNDATION is conducting a Capability Building Tour (CBT) to Pune wherein shortlisted women cricketers of Kupwara will be exposed to world class cricket environment. During this 14-days long tour starting from today and finishing on 26 Dec 23, they will have an opportunity to practice and play multiple cricket matches with women cricket teams of Maharashtra and interact with various National and Ranji players. The aim of first of its kind tour is to give exposure to the young girls and to provide an opportunity to hone their cricketing skills and interact with teams from outside Jammu and Kashmir State.
The 16 players selected for the tour is the outcome of Kupwara Women T-10 cricket championship started by Indian Army for Kupwara girls to showcase their sporting skills in cricketing field. The first edition of this championship was played in year 2021 in which only 6 teams had participated. But due to continuous and dedicated work by Indian Army’s Kupwara Terriers the young girls got motivated to come out of social barriers and resultantly in 2nd edition the number of teams increased from 6 to 14 in 2022, showcasing tremendous increase in the interest of local girls towards sports. This year, in 3rd edition of Kupwara Women T-10 Cricket Championship, the number of participant teams increased from 14 to 20, Witnessing the overwhelming response of players, ASSEM Foundation proposed a Cricket Tour for selected players to Pune. To make this proposal a reality, Vajr Division planned a “Sadhbhavna Tour to Pune,” gave extensive training and kitted the entire team with best of the sports articles.
The tour to Pune will not only provide an opportunity to showcase the world class cricket environment to girl players but also help them to learn from women teams outside the state. It will enrich the experience of Kupwara girls as maximum of them will be going out of the District for the first time. National level Stadiums have been reserved for the scheduled of matches and the team will also visit places of tourist interest. A short visit to dream city of Mumbai is also a glaring highlight of this tour. Today when all preparation are completed, General Officer Commanding Vajr Division, Major General Girish Kalia,VSM wished the team all the very best, and instructed all to learn and benefit maximum out of this opportunity as he flagged of the tour from Pathahirri Garrison Kupwara.
The team will halt at Srinagar to interact with Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai, AVSM SM, General Officer Commanding Chinar Corps. Indian Army remains committed to engage, uplift and empower the women of Kupwara to become physically strong and excel in all facets of life including games and sports.
