SRINAGAR: Faisal Ali Dar was bestowed with the Padma Shri award, along with eight other sports personalities.
Faisal is a martial arts coach and teaches in the rural district of Bandipora, in Kashmir. Faisal is a former international martial arts champion and set up a small martial arts training academy, where Tajamul has been training.
Faisal Ali Dar, a young Kashmiri martial arts coach who aims to empower the youth in the militancy-hit areas through his sports academy for martial arts, will be conferred with the Padma Shri this year. #PeoplesPadma #PadmaAwards2022 pic.twitter.com/tvDwoufRFZ
— MyGovIndia (@mygovindia) January 26, 2022
Faisal not only teaches martial arts to his students but has also received the prestigious B.R. Ambedkar Sports Foundation’s B.R. Ambedkar National Award, for his contribution to ‘peace building activities’ in the Kashmir region.
Mr. Faisal Ali Dar, 33-year-old Martial Arts coach from Bandipore, Jammu & Kashmir has been awarded Padma Shri in field of Sports (Martial Art) for his aim to empower the Kashmiri youth through his sports academy for martial arts, having trained 4,000 students. pic.twitter.com/GFDgaYVHHt
— Spokesperson, Ministry of Home Affairs (@PIBHomeAffairs) January 26, 2022
Faisal was named on the Forbes list of Under 30-Asia back in 2017.
The award will change the narrative related to sports in Jammu and Kashmir and as a result, more and more youngsters will be attracted to the field of sports,” he told Excelsior.
Heartiest congratulations to Padma Awardees Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad (Padma Bhushan), Shri Vishwamurti Shastri (Padma Shri) and Shri Faisal Ali Dar (Padma Shri), for their valuable contributions in the field of Public Affairs, Literature & Education and Sports.
— Office of LG J&K (@OfficeOfLGJandK) January 25, 2022
Back in Bandipora, Dar is known as “Master Faisal” and trains quality players at his Ali Sports Academy. He heads 400 kids who he trains in different martial arts forms.
