SRINAGAR: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday honoured 580 outstanding sportspersons from Jammu and Kashmir with cash awards totalling Rs 2.71 crore, covering their achievements during 2023-24 and 2024-25.
The awards were presented at a special ceremony at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) here. While Omar personally handed over awards to 22 sportspersons, the remaining beneficiaries received the money through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
Congratulating the awardees, the chief minister said the financial assistance was aimed at encouraging sporting talent in J&K and ensuring that athletes had adequate support to pursue their careers.
He said sportspersons often face financial constraints related to coaching, training, equipment and travel, adding that the government would work to reduce the burden on their families.
“We should also increase this gradually, so that our athletes do not have to worry about investing in coaching, training, equipment, travel, etc.,” Omar said.
The chief minister also stressed the need to strengthen sports infrastructure, particularly at the grassroots level. He pointed to gaps in synthetic tracks, quality playing surfaces, indoor facilities and training centres, especially in mountainous and winter areas where weather conditions restrict outdoor activities for several months.
Omar said J&K’s altitude could be utilised to establish high-quality training centres and provide athletes with better preparation facilities.
“We have to capitalise on this. We have to use this by establishing high-quality training centres. And we have to pay attention to different sports,” he said.
Calling for a broader approach to sports promotion, the chief minister said attention should not remain confined to cricket and highlighted achievements by J&K athletes in disciplines such as Mixed Martial Arts (MMA).
He also welcomed increased corporate participation in sports, particularly in coaching and athlete development.
The chief minister linked investment in sports with the government’s campaign against drug abuse, saying sustained engagement with young people and better sporting facilities were essential to keeping them away from drugs.
“Staying away from drugs is not just a slogan for one day a year,” Omar said, stressing the need for year-round efforts to engage youth in sporting activities.
During the ceremony, Omar felicitated J&K MMA fighter Owais Yaqoob for his victory at BRAVE CF 107 in Bulgaria, where he defeated an unbeaten two-time IMMAF World Champion.
The chief minister also launched an anti-drug and anti-doping awareness campaign by handing over a campaign torch to a sports icon from J&K. The torch will travel through schools and different areas of Srinagar to spread awareness against drug abuse and doping and promote clean sports.
Minister for Sports Satish Sharma, Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, MLA Hazratbal Salman Ali Sagar, senior government officials, sports administrators, coaches, sportspersons, awardees and their parents attended the ceremony.
