sports

6th Asian Pencak Silat Championship

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2 years ago

October 15, 2022

BK Editor

International athletes praise Kashmir and its hospitality

BK NEWS

Srinagar, Oct 15: The J&K athletes have shown a considerable improvement in performance at both national and international levels by bagging more than 550 medals so far. Sports pundits attribute the rise in the graph of this performance to the availability of modern-day training facilities, coupled with the grooming of athletes on scientific lines along with the emergence of robust sports culture, besides hosting of many national and international events has helped J&K athletes acquire experience and take big leaps at both national and international level.

One such event, the 6th Senior Asian Pencak Silat Championship is underway at Srinagar’s Sheri Kashmir Indoor Stadium. The first-of-its-kind international event has brought together 150 athletes from 12 countries, who are stationed here next few days.

While Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha inaugurated the event, he welcomed the players and jury members along with other guests and asked them to enjoy the hospitality of picturesque Kashmir during their stay in the valley.

The national and international players who travel to different places often offer their verdicts during and after their stay.

Similarly, a few players from Malaysia and Indonesia spoke to the desk and were in awe of not only the venue, and place of stay but also the traditional food.

Abdul Malik from Indonesia is in high spirits after winning the fight in weight class B-50-55 against his counterpart from Malaysia by 24/20. Malik believes that the venue has added to his motivation and thus helped in the triumph.

Visiting J&K for the first time, Malik feels more events should be organized in Kashmir as the place has had a soothing effect on him.

Meanwhile, another athlete Mohammad Iqbal was elated after vanquishing his Indian competitor. Iqbal won his game by a huge margin and qualified for the semi-final of the Tunggal in the individual artistic category. Being a foodie and a chance traveller, Iqbal has been to many places around the world but he feels that Kashmiri cuisine is unique. Iqbal says that the food served in Kashmir is blended with a lot of warmth and love and that enhances its taste.

Another Malaysian athlete, Izzul Irfan was all set to play against his Indonesian counterpart. He quickly joined this desk to share his experiences so far. The mood of the Izzul could be gauged from the radiance on his face. He feels that there is something heavenly in Kashmir, though he also comes from a very scenic place. Izzul wants to teach the art of Pencak Silat to young athletes of J&K and in the near future wishes to visit this place more often than not.

Athletes from other countries also wished to share their feedback on the ongoing championship but for the time being their hands were full as they were about to face their opponents in the race for the title.

Speaking on the sidelines of the ongoing championship, Teddy Sutratmadje, Secretary General international Pencak Silat Association who hails from Indonesia said that all the athletes are happy with the arrangements. Sports Council has proved to be a good host thus far and we are completely satisfied with the facility put in place for players, officials, and other guests.

“Kashmir has a lot to offer and I am sure each one of us will carry prized memories of this place along,” he said.

Secretary Sports Council Nuzhat Gull, when asked about the challenges to organize events of such a high magnitude, smilingly quoted Winston Churchill and said, “We are the masters of our fate. The task which has been set on us is not above our strength; its pangs and toils are not beyond our endurance. As long as we have faith in our cause and an unconquerable willpower, victory will be within our grasp.”

“It is always tough to be the host but J&K Sports Council is ready for any challenge”, she added.

Related Topics:athletes Business Business Kashmir championship indoor stadium Industry J&K Kashmir LT Governor penchak silat sports Srinagar

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Two girls from J&K wheel their way to an international event.

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sports

Two girls from J&K wheel their way to an international event.

Published

2 years ago

October 17, 2022

BK Editor

Two girls from J&K wheel their way to an international event.

BK NEWS

Srinagar, Oct 17: Country has been churning out legendary sportspersons of sheer mettle past so many decades and it also comprises a good lot of athletes who in spite of their physical limitations have earned accolades from time to time.

These athletes come from varied backgrounds and have taken fighting social judgment as well as physical paucity in their stride. Be it by training at home or coping with bruising injuries, they have found ways around all hindrances. The perseverance of these specially-abled athletes showcases the stereotypes and personal adversity that each player overcomes to reach an arena of national or international recognition.

Taking a cue from the way these para-athletes are trained at national and international levels, J&K Sports Council has also been doing its bit to provide all possible facilities to such athletes to bring them at par with their counterparts from other regions. Recently, the Sports Council took a step in a similar direction and organized a selection cum training camp for Indian Wheelchair Basketball team and in this pursuit it teamed up with Wheelchair Basketball Federation of India (WBFI) and Voluntary Medicare Society (VMS).

Around sixteen female wheelchair players selected by WBFI from different states of India were part of the Camp and after a battery of selection trials, a team of twelve players was selected to represent the country at the international level. The selected team includes two members Insha Bashir and Ishrat Akther from the union Territory of J&K. While Insha hails from Budgam, Ishrat comes from Baramulla. The team shall participate in the first invitational international wheelchair basketball tournament to be held in Jaypee Sports Complex, Greater Noida from 5th-11th next month.

Terming their selection in the national team as one of the biggest achievements this year, Secretary YSS and Tourism Sarmad Hafeez said that we shall be organizing more such camps in future and the way two girls from J&K have shown grit and determination to chase their dreams, “I am sure this will inspire our young to work harder towards achieving their goals”.

The Secretary Sports Council, Nuzhat Gull said, “At a time when many of our young have fallen to the drugs and yet many more are fighting the menace in hospitals and rehabilitation centres, girls like Insha and Ishrat are hope”. The duo in spite of all the impediments have achieved a milestone and for sure they shall achieve many more in the years to follow, she added.

Chairman VMS, Masooda Yasin said, “Both players have suffered trauma at a very young age that left them crippled but that did not deter them from chasing their dreams and doing what they thought suits them best”. It was easy to lose focus but the determined trailblazers overcame grave physical challenges to reach this level, she added.

Meanwhile the basketball camp underway at multipurpose indoor hall Shadipora, Sumbal Bandipora was inaugurated by Secretary Sports Council; Nuzhat Gull earlier this month and she had given special directions to the concerned, to provide all logistics to the team and ensured no stone is left unturned to equip them in every respect.

The team is training under the tutelage of renowned basketball coach Louis George M besides; two national coaches are also on the job to hone the skill set of the team.