Chief Secretary says sports foster peace, brotherhood and confidence; lauds Army’s Dagger Division for engaging youth in constructive activities
Inayat Qayoom
BARAMULLA, JULY 20:
Jammu and Kashmir’s young population has the talent and potential to drive the region’s future, but needs the right opportunities and direction, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo said while underlining the role of sports and education in youth development.
Addressing the knockout ceremony of the Chinar Premier League (CPL) 2026 at General Bipin Rawat Stadium in north Kashmir’s Baramulla, Dulloo said sporting activities can go beyond competition by promoting discipline, teamwork, mutual respect and confidence among young people.
“Sports can strengthen peace, brotherhood and confidence among youth,” Dulloo said, praising the Indian Army’s Dagger Division for providing youngsters with opportunities to participate in positive, healthy and creative activities.
He said Jammu and Kashmir was “sitting on a gold mine of talent and opportunity”, but the potential of its youth could be realised only by providing them with appropriate platforms and guidance.
Dulloo urged players to uphold discipline, courage, hard work and respect for their competitors, saying that a champion is one who wins hearts through character.
He said the CPL was providing talented youngsters a platform to showcase their abilities while contributing to peace, social cohesion and community participation.
Nearly 6,000 spectators, including school students, cricket enthusiasts and sports lovers, attended the event, officials said.
The CPL-2026, spearheaded by the Indian Army in partnership with the Baramulla Cricket Foundation (BCF), features 1,600 athletes, 79 teams and 81 matches across eight venues.
Following selections from 130 applicants and competition across 26 pools, 32 teams have advanced to the knockout stage. The tournament seeks to promote youth engagement, sportsmanship and social cohesion through cricket.