JAMMU, Mar 8 (KNS) ; Former Director General of Police of Jammu and Kashmir, Ashok Bhan, on Sunday inaugurated the second All India Police Kabaddi Cluster 2025-26 at the Maulana Azad Stadium here, marking the start of a six-day tournament featuring over 1,600 police sportspersons from across the country.
Organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Police from March 7 to 12, the event is being held to promote sportsmanship and physical fitness among police personnel. The competition features four disciplines—Kabaddi, Kho-Kho, Fencing, and Gymnastics.
A total of 1,648 athletes are participating in the tournament, including 1,071 men and 577 women, alongside team managers, technical officials, and representatives from the All-India Police Sports Control Board, taking the total participation to 1,798.
In a special gesture to mark International Women’s Day, the organisers felicitated three distinguished sportspersons from Jammu & Kashmir—gymnast Manpreet Kour, fencer Rishika Khajuria, and Kho-Kho player Nazia Bibi—as Guests of Honour at the opening ceremony.
Speaking on the occasion, Anand Jain, ADGP Armed J&K and Organising Secretary of the event, said the presence of these athletes reflects the force's commitment to promoting women empowerment and sporting excellence.
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"The J&K Police has immense sports potential, and hosting such events will inspire young children to take up sports as a profession," Jain added.
Teams from Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), including the Border Security Force, Central Reserve Police Force, Shastra Seema Bal, Central Industrial Security Force, Assam Rifles, Railway Protection Force, and Indo-Tibetan Border Police, are also competing in the tournament.
In his address, Ashok Bhan extended greetings to the women participants on International Women's Day and lauded their dedication and sporting excellence. He noted that their presence reflects the growing empowerment and vital role of women in the Police and Central Armed Police Forces.
The opening ceremony was attended by Nuzhat Gul, Secretary J&K Sports Council; IGP Jammu Zone Bhim Sen Tuti; IGP Railways Vivek Gupta; former IG Jammu Zone Ashok Gupta; besides other senior officers and commandants of Jammu-based battalions. (KNS)