Early Times Report
JAMMU, Oct 25: Three talented Speedball players from Jammu & Kashmir, accompanied by Indian Team Coach Sunny Nanda, left Jammu today to represent India at the 37th World Speedball Championship, scheduled to be held in Egypt from October 27 to November 2, 2026. The three selected players from Jammu & Kashmir will represent India in the Sub-Junior category. They are Sayam Kashyap of Jammu Sanskriti School, AAdrit Gupta of G.D. Goenka Public School, Jammu, and hridyansh Tirpathi of Army Public School, Dhar Road, Udhampur. All three players qualified at the national level and have now earned the opportunity to represent the country at the prestigious World Championship.
Sunny Nanda will accompany the players as Coach of the Indian Team. Besides his coaching responsibility, Nanda will also represent India as a player in the Senior category at the championship.
On the occasion, Sanjeev Verma, IAS, extended his best wishes to the three selected players, their parents, the entire Indian contingent and the J&K Sports Speedball Association.
Verma said that he has been associated with the Speedball Association since 2010 and has witnessed its continuous efforts to promote the sport and provide national and international exposure to young players. He appreciated the Association for regularly sending teams to major championships and achieving encouraging results.
Speaking to the media, Sunny Nanda said that around 20 to 22 countries participate in the World Speedball Championship every year and India has consistently performed well, often finishing around fourth or fifth position.
"This year, I am hopeful that Team India will finish among the top three or four teams. Our Sub-Junior players from Jammu & Kashmir are performing extremely well in their respective categories, and I am confident that they will give their best and make India and Jammu & Kashmir proud," Nanda said.
BJP leader Ritika Trehan, who was also present on the occasion, congratulated the young players and their parents and wished the Indian team success at the World Championship.
She said that when the team returns after participating in the World Championship, the players will be warmly welcomed and a special felicitation programme will be organised to honour and encourage them. She added that such recognition would motivate young sportspersons and provide them with a stronger platform to achieve greater success in the future.
The J&K Sports Speedball Association extended its best wishes to the entire Indian contingent and expressed confidence that the players would deliver an impressive performance at the 37th World Speedball Championship and bring laurels to India and Jammu & Kashmir.
For the people of Kashi, the event was more than just an air show; it offered an opportunity to witness the valour of the Indian Air Force and experience the country's military strength at close quarters, officials said.
Modi's presence at the event generated considerable enthusiasm among residents, with large numbers of people gathering along the route from the police lines to Namo Ghat to welcome the prime minister. BJP workers and residents greeted Modi with rose petals, traditional musical performances and cultural programmes at designated points along the route |
