Jammu, March 24: (KNS) 17th J&K Police Martyrs Memorial Football Tournament-2021-22 organized by Jammu and Kashmir Police under its Civic Action Programme and in collaboration with J&K Football Association concluded today at Synthetic Turf Ground TRC Srinagar with JK Bank emerging as tournament champions.

 

 Director General of Police J&K Dilbag Singh was the chief guest at the prize distribution ceremony.

 

ADGP Armed J&K SJM Gillani, IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar, DIG CKR Sujit Kumar SSP Srinagar Rakesh Balwal, Kashmir based Commandants of JKAP/IRP battalions, JK Football Association President Zamir Ahmad Thakur, General Secretary JKFA Prof. Shah, Nazir Ahmad Bhat, District President Srinagar Football Association Fayaz Ahmad Sofi, members of JK Sports Council and other senior civil and police officers were present on the occasion.

 

DGP J&K speaking at the closing ceremony congratulated the winners/runners up teams and said that Jammu & Kashmir Police is committed to boost to the sports and other Youth Development activities in J&K. He congratulated the ADGP Armed J&K and JK Football Association for successful conduct of the mega event. He said that it feels good that after the COVID19 waves we all are witnessing a game which is highly popular in Kashmir and gives an opportunity to all to celebrate sports. He said last year in-between the two waves of COVID-19, J&K Police organised a number of sports events in which around 70 thousand youth participated in different sports activities across J&K.

 

The DGP said that the Jammu and Kashmir Police has been organizing various youth oriented tournaments and added that J&K Police would provide all possible support to the youth looking forward to make their mark at bigger levels. He appreciated the youth for taking part in the positive activities and wished all of them good luck.

 

He said that Jammu and Kashmir Police personnel sacrificed their lives while protecting the interests of people and the nation. Shri Singh said that Jammu and Kashmir witnessed tough times with disturbing situations and added that every individual particularly youth has to play a role in one way or other in realizing peaceful and prosperous Jammu and Kashmir.

 

 Appealing the misguided youth to shun the path of violence and contribute in the nation building by participating in positives activities, the DGP said that terrorism led to the destruction of the properties and we lost a number of lives. He paid rich tributes to the martyred police personnel and said that such tournaments besides providing a platform to the youth are aimed to remember martyrdom of our brave hearts.

 

Speaking to the media, the DGP said that the game of football is highly popular in Kashmir and the exhibition match played by girls exhibits that they have high potential and must be provided more opportunities, he added. He said that the situation in J&K is progressively improving and added that with the cooperation of people, particularly youth,peace process would be further consolidated. He said that as long as terrorism exists the element of destruction exists too, adding that J&K Police is going hard against terrorists and their support system to strengthen peace.

 

ADGP Armed J&K thanked the DGP for gracing the ceremony and briefed about the fixtures and participation of teams in the tournament. He also thanked the players, spectators, media persons, and the people for making the event a success.

 

The J&K Police Martyrs Football Tournament was inaugurated on 17th of March in which 16 top teams from Kashmir and 02 teams from Jammu division participated. Total 16 league/quarter/semi final and final matches were played. The tournament is organised by J&K Police every year in the memory of those brave officials who gave supreme sacrifices of their lives for the sovereignty and integrity of the nation. The tournament was started in the year 1998 in the memory of Inspector Mushtaq Ahmad Baba. (KNS)