Srinagar, June 11 :
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday attended the valedictory function of the ALFA Hockey Inter-School Tournament-2026 held at the Synthetic Hockey Astro Turf, Polo Ground Srinagar, and reiterated the administration’s commitment to transforming Jammu and Kashmir into a hub of world-class hockey talent.
The tournament witnessed enthusiastic participation from 32 schools representing various districts, including Kupwara, Bandipora, Kulgam and Shopian, showcasing the growing interest in hockey among young athletes across the Union Territory.
Addressing the gathering, the Lieutenant Governor congratulated the winning teams and all participants for displaying exceptional skill, discipline and sportsmanship throughout the competition.
He lauded the joint efforts of the J&K Sports Council, Badal Hockey Club and Hockey Jammu & Kashmir for creating a meaningful platform that nurtures talent and promotes the spirit of sports among the youth.
“The objective of this tournament extended far beyond winning and losing. It offered young players an opportunity to discover their abilities and pursue excellence in the sport,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
Highlighting the progress made in recent years, LG Sinha said Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed a significant revival of hockey through sustained investments in sports infrastructure, grassroots competitions and active community participation.
“It is our vision to encourage more schools and young players to embrace hockey and establish Jammu and Kashmir as a cradle of international-standard hockey talent,” he said.
He further stated that the administration is building a comprehensive talent development pathway to ensure promising players progress seamlessly from school-level competitions to regional and national platforms.
The Lieutenant Governor noted that synthetic hockey turfs established at Polo Ground Srinagar, Pulwama and Poonch have created new opportunities for aspiring players from urban centres, border areas and remote regions alike.
He informed that modern synthetic hockey facilities are also being developed at Bandhu Rakh and K.K. Hakku Stadium in Jammu, which will strengthen advanced training, specialised coaching camps and talent identification initiatives aimed at producing future national-level players.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment towards youth empowerment, LG Sinha said every effort is being made to provide adequate opportunities and resources to enable young people to excel and contribute towards the vision of Viksit Bharat.
“Our youth have already demonstrated their capabilities in diverse fields, from sporting achievements such as the Ranji Trophy Championship to social initiatives like the Nasha Mukt J&K campaign. Their contribution to nation-building should remain unmatched,” he added.
Among those present on the occasion were Prof. Mohammad Mobin, Vice Chancellor Cluster University Srinagar; Dr. Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, Commissioner Secretary Youth Services and Sports; DIG CKR Rajiv Omprakash; SSP Srinagar Dr. G.V. Sundeep Chakravarthy; Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Akshay Labroo; Secretary J&K Sports Council Nuzhat Gul; President of Badal Hockey Club Harmeet Singh Sasan, besides senior officers, sports personalities, coaches, students and teachers from various schools.