SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday called for strengthening the grassroots sports ecosystem in the Union Territory, urging institutions, coaches, parents and corporate houses to identify and support promising athletes before they achieve medal-winning success.
Addressing a National Sports Day event, Sinha said sporting development could not be left solely to governments and stressed the need for wider private-sector participation in nurturing young talent.
“Do not wait until an athlete wins a medal to provide support,” Sinha said, urging corporate houses operating in Jammu and Kashmir to help identify and develop talent in villages, small towns and streets.
Paying tribute to hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand, Sinha said the sporting icon had become a symbol of India’s identity through his achievements, dedication and discipline.
Describing sport as an important instrument of character-building and nation-building, the Lieutenant Governor said success on the field was not confined to winning medals.
“Sport is life’s most honest teacher,” he said, adding that sporting excellence required hard work, opportunity, discipline and strength of character.
Sinha said Jammu and Kashmir’s young athletes reflected the region’s potential and called for equal access to professional and scientific training for sportspersons from rural and remote areas.
He said a young athlete from Reasi or Shopian should have access to training and facilities comparable to those available at centres of excellence in Jammu and Srinagar.
The Lieutenant Governor also called for strengthening sports science and sports management as academic disciplines, saying universities and other institutions should produce trained coaches, sports managers, physiotherapists and technical experts.
Sinha said Jammu and Kashmir should aspire not only to participate in international sporting competitions but also develop the capacity to host global sporting events.
He expressed confidence that the achievements of the Union Territory’s athletes could gain wider international recognition in the coming years.
The Lieutenant Governor also acknowledged the contribution of coaches, support staff and parents, saying their role behind an athlete’s success deserved greater recognition.
Linking sporting success with national development, Sinha said progress should not be measured solely through economic indicators but also through the energy of young people and India’s achievements on the global sporting stage.
Addressing young athletes, he urged them to remain disciplined and persevere in pursuing their goals, saying confidence and sustained effortwere essential for success.
