Ganderbal, Oct 22 (JKNS): The picturesque campus of the Government College of Physical Education (GCOPE) in Ganderbal witnessed a momentous celebration of athletic prowess, unity, and youthful energy today as the 70th National School Games Taekwondo officially began. Set against the majestic backdrop of Kashmir, the prestigious championship was declared open by the Chief Guest, Senior Superintendent of Police Ganderbal, Harshal Rajesh Mahajan.
Addressing the gathering of talented young athletes, coaches, and sports officials who have converged from every corner of the nation, the Chief Guest encouraged the participants to embrace the true spirit of competition, emphasizing that sports play an essential role in character building, cultural exchange, and overall personality development.
The inaugural ceremony opened with a warm and inspiring welcome address delivered by Additional Secretary to the Government, Department of Youth Services and Sports, Tinna Mahajan.
In her address, she highlighted the stellar role played by the Directorate of Youth Services and Sports in grooming sports talent among the youth and school children of Jammu and Kashmir.
She further underscored the visionary leadership and tireless commitment of Director General Youth Services and Sports, Anuradha Gupta, whose earnest vision is for every participant to take back lifetime memories, serving as cultural ambassadors of Kashmir’s unmatched beauty, rich heritage, and legendary hospitality.
Adding perspective to the national scale of the event, School Games Federation of India Observer and Senior Field Officer Ajay Singh Chandel took the stage to express his profound admiration for the flawless organization by the Directorate. Drawing comparisons from his officiating experience during the 69th National School Games, he lauded the meticulous planning and exceptional execution of the tournament.
He also made special mention of the media and publicity committee, recalling how he closely followed the live broadcasts of the preceding Wushu championships from his home in Uttar Pradesh, praising the dedicated team for bringing the action to audiences nationwide.
The ceremony also featured addresses by Principal GCOPE Ganderbal, Shaukat Hussain, highlighting the extensive arrangements put in place to host hundreds of visiting participants.
The proceedings of the grand event were seamlessly and eloquently conducted by Media and Publicity Coordinator and Convener of the Media and Publicity Committee, Azhar Hajni.
To uphold the highest standards of fair play and integrity, solemn oaths were administered to all participating players to compete with absolute discipline and sportsmanship, alongside a technical oath taken by officials from across the country to maintain rigorous professional decorum during officiating. With the opening formalities successfully concluded, exciting taekwondo bouts have officially kicked off across three dedicated arenas, with results and medal tallies to be shared with the media in due course. (JKNS)
