JAMMU, FEBRUARY 04 (KNO) : Describing sportspersons as ambassadors of peace and harmony, the Speaker, Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, Kavinder Gupta today advised youth of the State to imbibe true spirit of sportsmanship to win hearts of people apart from winning games.
The Speaker was speaking after final match of 2nd Pandit Prem Nath Dogra Memorial Football Gold Cup Tournament (PPNDMFGCT) played between J&K Bank and Punjab team here at Parade Ground this afternoon. The tournament was won by J&K Bank by one goal.
The Minister for Youth Services & Sports, Technical Education and Information Technology Molvi Imran Raza Ansari, was also present on the occasion.
Besides, legislators Rajesh Gupta MLA and Vikram Randhawa MLC, Chairman, Pandit Prem Nath Dogra Memorial Trust Brigadier (Retd) Sucheet Singh, Senior Officers of YSS, Sport Council, Football Associations and, a large number of sports lovers were present on the occasion.
The football tournament was organised by the Pandit Prem Nath Dogra Memorial Trust in collaboration with the Youth Services and Sports Department in which 25 prominent football teams of State of Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir participated.
Terming sports as an essential element in maintaining a balance between mind, body and soul, the Speaker exhorted upon youth to adopt extracurricular activities for their personality development.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Youth Services and Sports Molvi Imran Raza Ansari said that the youth should more actively involve themselves in various sports activities rather than being carried away by other influences which can have disastrous effects on both their physique and intellect.
Ansari said that the government would leave no stone unturned in further raising the sports infrastructure in every part of the state. He said that during the past few years a number of major initiatives have been taken to equip the state sports stadia with latest facilities to match the national and international standards in the world of sports.
Trophies were distributed among the winners and runner ups on the occasion.(KNO)