Srinagar, May 10 (JKNS): Commissioner/Secretary Youth Services and Sports J&K, Shahid Iqbal Choudhary on Sunday strongly defended the selection process of the Jammu and Kashmir U-20 Football Team and said that sports should not be politicised by vested interests at the cost of youth and athletes.
Speaking to media persons after flagging off the Jammu and Kashmir U-20 Football Team at TRC Football Ground Srinagar for participation in the prestigious Swami Vivekananda U-20 National Football Championship, as per news agency JKNS, Shahid said the team was selected through a completely fair and transparent process after professional training camps conducted by the J&K Sports Council.
“Our football team is going to play nationals and the camps and training were organised professionally by the Sports Council. The selection process was fair and transparent and children from different districts of Jammu and Kashmir were selected purely on merit. Some of these players have already represented at international levels and I am confident they will make J&K proud,” he said.
Addressing the recent controversy regarding participation of the J&K football team in the national championship, Shahid said misinformation was deliberately spread by certain vested interests to create confusion and obstruct youth participation in sports activities.
He clarified that the All India Football Federation (AIFF) had officially authorised the J&K Sports Council in September 2023 to conduct football-related activities, including selections, coaching, training camps and management of competitions in Jammu and Kashmir till proper elections of the Football Association are held in the Union Territory.
“The Sports Council is presently the only authorised body for football selections in J&K. Despite this, some people are trying to mislead authorities and create hurdles so that children are prevented from participating in national competitions. This is unfortunate,” he said.
Shahid said an ad-hoc committee headed by Justice Gambhir was constituted in July 2025 to oversee elections and football-related matters in J&K, but the committee has not initiated the election process so far, due to which the Sports Council continues to remain the authorised body.
He said certain individuals with vested interests were trying to claim control without allowing proper grassroots-level elections to happen. “Sports associations work through a pyramid structure from block and district levels upwards. Some people only want control at the top without building democratic structures below. We will not allow that,” he said.
The Commissioner Secretary said he was deeply disappointed to see attempts being made to create unnecessary controversies around sports events involving children and youth. “One day news is circulated that the team has been dropped, another day it is claimed that someone got the team restored. This creates anxiety among parents and disappointment among players who have worked hard for months,” he said.
Shahid revealed that after initial confusion regarding the J&K team’s participation, the matter was immediately taken up with the AIFF on April 24, following which the issue was resolved and the participation of the J&K team was cleared officially. He said the Sports Council had submitted all relevant authorisation documents before the national federation.
He also issued a stern warning against individuals trying to damage the sports ecosystem in Jammu and Kashmir through misinformation campaigns and personal attacks on officials. “Some people are using social media pages and anonymous campaigns to spread negativity and pressure officials. We will not be intimidated. Legal course of action will be taken wherever required,” he said.
Highlighting the department’s larger vision for sports development in Jammu and Kashmir, Shahid said the government is focusing on three major areas including talent identification, organisation of leagues and tournaments, and creation of large-scale sports infrastructure across districts.
He said several major infrastructure projects have already been initiated in districts including Anantnag, Ganderbal, Shopian and Srinagar while national and international standard facilities are being planned across the Union Territory.
“We are working on football leagues, volleyball leagues, kabaddi and cricket tournaments across all regions. Every district and every block will be covered under the annual sports calendar,” he said.
Appealing to media organisations to act responsibly while reporting sports-related issues, Shahid said media persons should verify facts from official authorities before publishing reports that could affect young athletes.
“The media is the fourth pillar of democracy and we respect its role. But before running such sensitive reports, facts must be verified from us. We are available round the clock and transparency is our commitment,” he said.
Shahid reiterated that the government remains committed to fair and independent elections in sports federations and assured that every deserving athlete from Jammu and Kashmir would continue to receive opportunities to compete at national and international platforms.
“Our only objective is to strengthen sports culture and protect the interests of youth. Children should be allowed to play and grow without politics and vested interests interfering in their future,” he added. (JKNS)