Under Central scheme, int’l fencer Rashid to tap new talent in J&K

Vikas Sharma

Tribune News Service

Jammu, July 15

Maintaining that the promotion of sports at the grass-roots level, especially in rural areas, in J&K will be a Herculean task, international fencer Rashid Ahmed Choudhary who had recently been nominated as a member of the “Khelo India” programme said numerous initiatives would be taken to tap the talent in J&K.

A sub-inspector of the J&K Police, recipient of state award and Sher-e-Kashmir award, Rashid Ahmed while talking to The Tribune shared the details about the flagship scheme of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. The former national champion has been nominated as a member of the Khelo India Talent Scouting Committee to find out young and hidden talent across the country and to establish national academies.

“As far as J&K is concerned, the players will be given the opportunity of appearing for the selection process i.e. at the national level sports events/open trials process for different games and disciplines,” Rashid said.

“During the Khelo India events, the committee will also focus on sportspersons from the rural areas in order to give them a chance to prove their worth at the national and international level. Different committees have been formed for various disciplines, which will travel across the country to tap the sports talent by holding selection trials,” he added.

“The committee has been entrusted with the task of identifying talent in four disciplines, namely fencing, table tennis, rowing and cycling. Recently, I went to witness the national fencing championship and selected four fencers from J&K, including two girls and two boys each,” Rashid said.

“Meanwhile, the Talent Identification and Development Committee comprises eminent athletes, national observer, eminent coaches, talent scouts, sports scientists and representatives from the national sports federations and the Sports Authority of India,” the former champion added.

“The committee will recommend the final list of the players for talent support. The focus will be on the age groups of U-14, U-17 and U-19 because young talent is needed to prepare well for the Olympics,” the ace fencer added.

Sources claimed that the earlier efforts of the Central sports ministry in the recent past to strengthen/promote sports in J&K did not yield the desired results. Of the total 17 districts for which the J&K State Sports Council had received a grant to the tune of Rs 6,6,87,000 from the Centre during 2016-17, only six districts of Jammu division were covered under the scheme.

Committees formed

• Different committees have been formed for various disciplines, which will travel across the country to tap the sports talent by holding selection trials
• The Talent Scouting Committee has been entrusted with the task of identifying talent in four disciplines, namely fencing, table tennis, rowing and cycling
• The Talent Identification and Development Committee will recommend the final list of the players for talent support

‘Focus on rural youth’ 

As far as J&K is concerned, the players will be given an opportunity of appearing for the selection process. During the Khelo India events, the committee will also focus on sportspersons from the rural areas in order to give them a chance to prove their worth at the national and international level. — Rashid Ahmed Choudhary