Jammu: Emphasizing on the up-gradation of existing and new sports infrastructure, Secretary Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council, Nuzhat Gull on Thursday inaugurated cricket academy and sports nursery in parts of South Kashmir.
Ms Gull was accompanied by a team of Engineers and officials.
The Secretary during a day-long tour, visited several stadiums and Indoor Sports Complexes to monitor the progress of various ongoing works and gave on the spot directions for early completion of pending projects.
As per official communiqué, Ms Gull visited Multipurpose Indoor Sports Hall, Nilan Drussu, Bijbehara, Anantnag and inspected the progress of various works for the early inauguration of the sports facility.
She directed the Divisional Sports Officer (K) for early supply and installation of sports equipment, fixtures, and furniture.
She inaugurated the first of its kind Cricket Academy in South Kashmir to tap rich potential and cater the fleet of budding cricketers in the area.
Speaking on the occasion, Ms Gull said that the academy will be run in a makeshift arrangement put in place at Boys Government Higher Secondary School Bijbehara on professional lines by the ace cricketer Parveez Rasool.
However, Gull said the academy shall be soon shifted to the newly laid Sports Complex in Nilan Drussu within three months and the concerned Engineer has been directed to respect the deadline and hand over the facility complete in all respects.
She however, also ensured the inclusion of the cricket academy in PMDP and paved the way for setting up the first Khelo India Centre for Cricket in J&K.
The Secretary also handed over coaching and training equipment besides other cricket gears to trainees.
Later in the day, Ms Gull threw open Sports Nursery in Play Filed Pahalgam asserting that it was a long pending demand of sportsperson of the area which led to setting up of first such initiative to reach out to the talent in peripheries and nurture them under the tutelage of professional coaches.
She directed the in-charge of Pahalgam playfield to register the trainees for different sports disciplines enabling them to be part of different coaching camps.
Ms Gull interacted with registered players and distributed sports gears and equipment.
In the last leg of the day-long tour, Ms Gull visited Cricket Stadium Seer Hamdan where she interacted with various sports activists and players.