Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday said that investments in sports infrastructure, grassroots competitions, and community engagement have successfully enhanced the popularity of sports and expressed hope that Jammu and Kashmir would emerge as a cradle of world-class hockey talent. Sinha’s remarks came at the closing ceremony of the ALFA HOCKEY Inter-School Tournament-2026 at the synthetic hockey astro-turf at Polo Ground here.
The tournament brought together participants from 32 schools across various districts, including Kupwara, Bandipora, Kulgam and Shopian. In his address, the lieutenant governor congratulated all the winners and participants for their remarkable display of skills and talent during the tournament. He appreciated the collaborative efforts of J&K Sports Council, Badal Hockey Club, and Hockey Jammu & Kashmir for providing a platform to “celebrate the spirit and passion of young athletes across the region”.
“This tournament aimed for something beyond the scoreboard. It provided a transformative stage for our talented children to realise their true athletic potential,” Sinha said. He highlighted that over the last few years, Jammu and Kashmir witnessed a remarkable transformation in hockey.
“Investments in sports infrastructure, grassroots competitions and community engagement have successfully enhanced the popularity of the sport across the Union Territory. We aim to see more schools and more young players take up hockey in the coming years and establish Jammu Kashmir as a cradle for world-class hockey talent,” he said. Sinha said the government is building a talent pipeline in Jammu and Kashmir that will ensure a player’s journey from the school level to the regional level and national stage. He further said that synthetic hockey turfs at Polo View Srinagar, Pulwama and Poonch have opened new avenues for aspiring players from cities, border districts and remote areas.
“State-of-the-art synthetic hockey turfs are currently under construction at Bandhu Rakh and K.K. Hakku Stadium in Jammu. These projects will significantly expand the capacity for advanced training, specialised coaching camps, and rigorous talent identification programs, establishing a sustainable foundation for future national players,” he added. Sinha said the government’s constant endeavour is to provide opportunities and resources for young talent, enabling them to move forward and contribute to building a ‘Viksit Bharat’.
“From the Ranji Trophy Championship to the ‘Nasha Mukt J&K’ campaigns, the exceptional dedication of our youth has already been proven across various arenas. I am proud of their spirit, and I want our youth’s contribution to nation-building to be second to none,” Sinha said.
