Srinagar, May 04: Secretary/Commissioner Youth Services and Sports, Shahid Iqbal Choudhary on Monday said that youth remain the “soul” and centre of focus of Jammu & Kashmir’s development, asserting that sports is emerging as a powerful tool to counter the growing drug menace in the Union Territory.
Addressing a gathering at University of Kashmir, where over 190 students from different states participated in a Wushu event, Choudhary said the past five to six years have seen a clear shift towards youth-centric policies, particularly in sports and entrepreneurship.
He said a “mission mode” campaign for a drug-free Jammu & Kashmir, launched on April 11, is being strengthened through sports initiatives. “Drug addiction traps individuals in chains and takes away their freedom. There can be no better alternative than sports to break this cycle,” he said.
Highlighting infrastructure growth, Choudhary said around 625 sports facilities have been developed across schools, colleges, villages and remote areas in the last four years. “Every playground we build stands against the drug ecosystem and every league we create channels youth energy in a positive direction,” he added.
Referring to Wushu, he said the sport represents balance, resilience and respect and noted its inclusion in the Youth Olympics, expressing hope for its future inclusion in the Olympic Games. (KNO)
