Early Times Report
Jammu, Aug 29: The opening ceremony of the 24th J&K UT Athletics Championships was held today at the Athletics Track, University of Jammu, marking a vibrant start to the three-day sporting extravaganza. The Championships are being organized by the J&K Amateur Athletics Association under the aegis of the Athletics Federation of India, in collaboration with the University of Jammu, and sponsored by the J&K Sports Council. Over 800 athletes from across the Union Territory are competing in various age categories, showcasing talent from every district of J&K. The event was inaugurated by Dr. (Prof.) Ashutosh Sharma, Chief Patron, J&K AAA and Former Vice President, Indian Olympic Association & Athletics Federation of India. In his address, Dr. Sharma lauded the Association for the meticulous planning and execution of the event. He noted that the occasion was doubly significant as the nation observes National Sports Day, and emphasized that such championships serve as a crucial platform for identifying and nurturing budding athletes. Shri Sharat Chander Singh, General Secretary, J&K Athletics Association, welcomed the Chief Guest, office bearers, coaches, technical officials, and participants. He extended sincere gratitude to the J&K Sports Council, Department of Youth Services & Sports, University of Jammu, and the media fraternity for their unwavering support. The ceremony was also graced by S. Ravinder Singh, Senior Vice President & International Athlete; Shri Rajan Sharma, Joint Secretary, Boxing Federation of India; S. Tejinder Singh, Former Gymnast; Shri Vinod Bhatia, Joint Secretary; and Shri Rajesh Kumar, Treasurer, J&K AAA. The competitions are being conducted by a panel of experienced technical officials under the supervision of Shri Nirmal Singh, Chairman, Technical Committee. The technical team comprises Shri Gurcharan Singh, Shri Sarabjit Singh, Shri Harpreet Singh, Ms. Pawandeep Kaur and Harvinder Singh. |