As usual, Wushu players Surya Bhanu Partap Singh, Rajinder Singh and their coach Kuldeep Handoo sparkled at the International level in 2017. While Bhanu Partap clinched gold in 6th PARS Cup held in Iran, Rajinder Singh bagged silver bronze in World Wushu Games held in Russia. Handoo brought laurels to the State and to the Country as Chief Coach of India. Apart from this, Riya Chib and Munazer Gazi claimed gold in 63rd National School Games held in Assam.
Young gymnasts Bavleen Kour, Vandana, Nandini Lakhotra and Stuti Gupta made it to the 16-member India squad for Khelo Games, which witnessed record participation across the Country. Ace gymnast, Palak and Bavleen also attended a special training camp at Thailand. Coaches Arjun Awardee Krupali, Manisha and SP Singh have the role to play in upliftment of budding gymnasts.
Rudra Partap Singh, a national medalist, has also been selected for Asian Championship to be held at Dubai next year. Currently, he is having rank-2 in India. International coach Rachna Jamwal, coach Shotu Lal, Rashid Ahmed and former International player Ujjwal Gupta deserve appreciation for patting and promoting fencers in the State.
Meenal Gupta won gold medal in Commonwealth Games and kept her State’s flag high at the International scene. Meenal alongwith her father Atul Kumar Gupta were honoured by Dr Jitendra Singh, MoS PMO, who appreciated Meenal for this achievement. She was also congratulated by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and Sports Minister, Imran Raza Ansari for bringing laurels to the State.
Former National Cricketer and Sports Administrator, Ranjeet Kalra was appointed as Advisor for Youth Services & Sports to The Union Territory Government of Lakshadweep, under the aegis of Union Home Ministry. Kalra also won wide acclaim for his sporting acumen for successfully organizing the Prime Minister’s ‘Khelo India’ Scheme in District Jammu apart from hosting a series of sports events.
Saqlain Tariq, International Volleyball Player from Poonch was selected in the Indian University (IU) team for Federation Cup Volleyball Championship in February, 2017. Earlier, Tariq represented the country as Captain of Volleyball team through 10th Asian Volleyball Championship which was held at Colombo in Sri Lanka.
Ace Judokas Danish and Shweta Thakur became part of World University (WU) Games after their good show in All India Inter-University competitions. The duo has the distinction of bringing laurels to the State, time and again, in National level events.
International Taekwondo player, coach and referee, Atul Pangotra continued his brilliance in 2017, winning silver medal in Commonwealth Taekwondo Championship-2017 at Mondtreal in Canada. He also won gold medal in Senior National Taekwondo Championship held in Jammu, besides winning bronze in World Taekwondo Cadet Championship at Egypt. He also attended Refresher Course in South Korea. He was appointed Referee Chairman of Taekwondo Federation of India.
J&K wins gold medal in 63rd National School Games Under-19 Boys Tennis Ball Cricket Championship held at Neemich in Madhya Pradesh recently. J&K defeated Goa in the summit clash. The team was sponsored by the Department of Youth Services and Sports, J&K.
Praful Dhar became the first player from migrant educational institutions in Jammu to represent the State Under-16 Cricket Team as Vice Captain in North Zone Vijay Merchant Trophy. Student of Govt HSS (Camp) Bohri, Jammu, Praful was appreciated by his Principal Ramesh Kumar Hakim for this achievement.
He said his selection will open a window for other migrant players to showcase their skill at the higher levels.
Jammu and Kashmir boxers Pardeep Sharma and Ashish Jasrotia were named for the India Camp held at National Boxing Academy Rohtak. Pardeep also won bronze medal in Senior National event at Vishakhapatnam. Boxers Vinod Bharadwaj and Vinay Partap Singh were selected in 30 probable from across the country for 2020-2014 Olympic Qualifying. Mansingh won bronze in National School Games. The credit of producing quality boxers goes to Anil Wadhera, boxing Coach.
Talented cricketers Shubham Pundir, Jatin Wadhawan and Jiyaad Nazir Magray hit two centuries each in their respective groups in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Tournaments held during 2017. Other players who scored centuries this season included Shubham Khajuria, Ahmed Banday, Punit Bisht, Paras Sharma, Qamran Iqbal, Sahil Lotra, Vivrant Sharma, Kanhaiya Wadhavan and Tahsin Dar. Parvez Rasool once again emerged top wicket-taker from Jammu and Kashmir in Ranji Trophy with 28 wickets.
For his outstanding contribution in the field of shooting, the first Olympian from Jammu and Kashmir, Chain Singh has been awarded Rs 5 lakh by the Government through Secretary J&K State Sports Council, Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra. He has the honour of winning bronze medal in 2014 Asian Games at Incheon in the men’s 50m rifle 3 positions event, besides winning six gold medals, three in individual events and three in team events, in 2016 South Asian Games held at Guwahati and Shillong in India.
J&K’s Dr SM Bali, who has the distinction of being former Secretary General Handball Federation of India, was elected Joint Secretary of Indian Olympic Association in the elections held recently. Mr Bali has the honour of being former President Jammu and Kashmir Handball Association also.
Ace cueist Ansh Chopra claimed 4th spot in the National Sub Junior Snooker Championship, organized by the Karnataka State Billiards Association, under the auspices of Billiards and Snooker Federation of India at Bengaluru in Karnataka.
Young and promising shooter Kavya Kochar secured silver medal in Under-17 girls category of 63rd National School Games Shooting Championship held at Shiv Chhattrapati Sports Complex, Balewade, Pune in Maharashtra.
Prime Minister Mahendra Modi’s ‘Khelo India’ Scheme made tremendous impact as thousands of players across the State participated in these prestigious ‘Khelo India’ Games. The selected players in these games will represent Indian teams in their respective sports disciplines.
Former skipper Indian Handball team and SSP Ranjit Singh Chib was appointed National selector by the Handball Federation of India. He has been outstanding Handball player, who has been instrumental in guiding State as also the national team to win good number of matches.
Akash Batra was part of the Indian Net Ball team that won gold in the Asian Championship held in Malaysia recently, India defeated arch rivals Pakistan in the finals of this prestigious event.
State Cricket Academy (SCA) of Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council organized a series of mega cricketing events in the State throughout the year. Cricketers in thousands participated in these tournaments, which included the players from far flung areas of the State.
J&K’s India coach continued to produce International stuff in the discipline of Kayaking and Canoeing in the year 2017. Bilquis ‘mantra’ helped has helped J&K boys and girls to bring laurels even at the International scene, not to talk of the National level only.
Poster girl of stone throwers in Valley turned goalie and led the State team in prestigious women’s football tournament at Delhi. In connection with the Football Tournament in Delhi, the 21-year old Afshan Ashiq met the Union Home Minister, Rajnath Singh and said that that she does not want to look back.
Jammu City hosted the historic Chief Minister’s T20 Premier League for Women, wherein top players from Bangladesh, Nepal and all parts of India participated. The event was organized by J&K State Sports Council and J&K Police Department at Parade ground in Jammu. The event was the brainchild of former Ranji Trophy Player and Chief Prosecuting Officer, Rajesh Gill, Ranjeet Kalra, Member BCCI and Vice Chairman Sports Council Jammu and this columnist.
J&K’s ace player, Hiteshwar Singh blossomed as India maintained its supremacy in Roll Ball by winning 4th Roll Ball World Cup at Dhaka in Bangladesh. In the nail-biting summit clash, India defeated Iran in a close contest by eight goals to seven (8-7) including a last minute goal, thus retaining the World Cup.
As many as 33 teams from across the Country participated in the 63rd National School Games Under-17 Boys Football Tournament, organized by the Department of Youth Services and Sports in Jammu. It is so far the record participation of the teams in any event hosted by State. Minister for Information Technology, Technical Education and Youth Services and Sports, Moulvi Imran Raza Ansari was the chief guest on the valedictory function of this mega event.