L-G Sinha inaugurates national sports conference in Jammu

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday inaugurated the two-day ‘National-Level Sports Conference – SRIJAN’, organised by the Department of Youth Services and Sports, in Jammu.

The conference aims to identify actionable strategies to further strengthen sports systems in the Union Territory, prepare a roadmap for effective implementation of the National Sports Policy 2025 and the J&K Sports Policy 2022, and highlight measures for shaping a resilient and future-ready generation, an official spokesperson said.

Addressing the conference, the L-G called for linking sports with education and essential life skills. He said that with integration into the education curriculum, sports can become a powerful tool for the complete and holistic development of youth.

“Sports is a powerful force that shapes individuals, brings communities together and plays a vital role in nation-building. For youth, sports serve as a real-life school which teaches discipline, values and leadership through lived experience. It is a strong medium for empowerment, social awareness and the overall progress of the society,” Sinha said.

He emphasised that sports should be kept away from politics, observing that sporting talent can only be nurtured in a peaceful environment. “In order to make India a true sporting powerhouse, we must keep sports and politics strictly separate,” he said.

Sinha added that politics should not interfere in sports and that talented youth should not be deprived of the opportunities they deserve.

“We must move forward and create a system where there is no room for doubt on the selection process,” he said.

The L-G reiterated the administration’s resolve to extend requisite support to sportspersons and to develop state-of-the-art sports infrastructure at the grassroots level. He also stressed the need to give special focus and strong encouragement to the participation of women and to work towards removing the major barriers that hold them back. He said that policymakers and industry leaders should create avenues of opportunity through sports.

“Investing in sports means investing in disciplined citizens and a confident future to shape the destiny of the country. To truly build a sports culture, we must bring sports into the heart of daily community living and connect sports with education and life skills,” the L-G said.

Sinha commended the Department of Youth Services and Sports, J&K, for its initiative aimed at advancing the national sports agenda through the sharing of best practices.