A ski racer at the 5th National Winter Games at Gulmarg, Jammu & Kashmir in 2008

Popular sports in Jammu and Kashmir include cricket, football and winter sports along with sports like golf, water sports, Ice stock sport and adventure sports. The National Winter Games have been held in Gulmarg in 1996, 2004 and 2009.[1] The first Khelo India Winter Games were held in February and March 2020 in Leh and Gulmarg.[2][3] Jammu and Kashmir won the most gold medals (26 gold, 29 silver, 21 bronze) while the Indian Army team came second with 8 gold medals.[4] The second edition of the winter games were also held successfully in Gulmarg in 2020 with Jammu and Kashmir coming first and Karnataka second.[5]

Snowmobile riders enjoying themselves at the 5th National Winter Games at Gulmarg, Kashmir in 2008.

Jammu and Kashmir has produced numerous international and national level players including Gul Dev, the first Kashmiri Olympian, numerous Indian Premier League cricketers such as Abdul Samad and Mithun Manhas, sharp shooter Chain Singh and footballer Mehrajuddin Wadoo among others.

Shera, the mascot of the Commonwealth Games Delhi 2010 takes a ride on Dal Lake
The sports fraternity of Srinagar taking the Queen's Baton for the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games for a ride in Srinagar

Background

Princely state of Jammu and Kashmir

In 1883, in the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, hunting was still a sport though restrictions on what could be killed and where game could be hunted had started to take force. In A. E. Ward's Sportsman's Guide to Kashmir and Ladak, Ward writes, "in Kashmir there exist two or three hundred men who call themselves shikaris, but there are not two dozen who are worthy of the name. In no other part of India have I come across such an arrant collection of impostors." Game included markhor, ibex, ther, serow, goral, burhel, deer, antelope, yak, wolf, sambhur and others.[6] By the time Ward came out with the fourth edition of his book in 1896 he notes that there is "but little sport to be got in the whole of the Kashmir dominions".[6] By 1942 the Jammu and Kashmir Game Preservation Action came into force which outlined the conditions under which game could be killed.[7]

State and UT of Jammu and Kashmir

Against the background of the Kashmir conflict and tension in the state, government initiatives in the sports sector are promoted specifically trying to draw the youth away from the conflict.[8][9][10][11][12] The Indian Army also conducts sporting activities for the youth in the region through various welfare initiatives such as Operation Sadbhavana.[13] Lack of infrastructure,[14] politicization, lack of support[15] are other issues hampering growth of the sports in the region.

Abid Hussain, a sports journalist in Kashmir and founder of the monthly sports magazine Kashmir Sports Watch, in a 2020 interview with Mumbai Mirror said that sports tournaments in Kashmir are organised by both the army and police, as well as mainstream political parties, even the Hurriyat, and once a player takes part in one of these tournaments, the players along with their families are labelled "pro-India" or "pro-Pakistan" accordingly. Even if a sportsperson plays for India they face stigmatization from separatists.[16]

On 24 September 2020, the one-year anniversary of the Fit India Movement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi digitally interacted with sportspersons across the country, including Afshan Asiq. Afshan is the captain of Kashmir Valley's first Jammu and Kashmir women's state football team. In 2017, she had been photographed stone pelting, which had appeared in headlines across the country.[17][18]

Prime Minister Modi interacting with the various fitness enthusiasts during the Fit India Dialogue event, via video conferencing in September 2020. Visible is Afshan Asiq.

Notable athletes from Jammu and Kashmir

International, national and state level notable players from the region.

Known as Real name District Sport(s) category Career
Gul Dev Gul Mustafa Dev Srinagar Skiing 1988–present
Aamir Aziz Aamir Aziz Jammu Cricket 2015–present
Armless cricketer Amir Hussain Lone Anantnag Cricket 2013-present
Chain Singh Chain Singh Doda district Shooting sports 2007–present
Baramulla's supergirl Iqra Rasool Baramulla Cricket 2015–present
Mehrajuddin Wadoo Mehrajuddin Wadoo Srinagar Football 1996–present
Mithun Manhas Mithun Manhas Doda district Cricket 1998–present
Abid Nabi Abid Nabi Srinagar Cricket 2004–present
Abdul Samad Abdul Samad Rajouri Cricket 2019–present
Parvez Rasool Parvez Rasool Anantnag district Cricket 2009–present
Umran Malik Umran Malik Srinagar Cricket 2021–present
Aadil Manzoor Peer Aadil Manzoor Peer Kupwara district ice stock sport 2012–present
Mohammad Sarfaraz Mohammad Sarfaraz srinagar district ice stock sport 2012–present
Tajamul Islam[19] Tajamul Islam Jammu Kickboxing 2016–present
Rasikh Salam Rasikh Salam Kulgam district Cricket 2018–present
Jasia Akhter Jasia Akhtar Shopian Cricket 2013–present
Akbar Khan[20] Akbar Khan Baramulla Cycling 2011–present
Palak Kaur Palak Kour Bijral Jammu Rhythmic gymnastics 2003–present
Danish Manzoor Danish Manzoor Baramulla Taekwondo 2011–present Citation needed
Afshan Ashiq Afshan Ashiq Srinagar Football Citation needed

Sporting activities

Cricket in Jammu and Kashmir

Cricket is the second most popular sport in Jammu and Kashmir after football. Recently Ifran Pathan was made the mentor and coach of the Jammu and Kashmir cricket team.[21] The team participates in the events such as the Ranjhi Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy. Popular players to have come from the region include Parvez Rasool, Abdul Samad, Mithun Manhas, Rasikh Salam and Manzoor Dar[22] who have played T20 IPL matches for team such as Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kings XI Punjab. Other cricketers from Jammu and Kashmir[23] include Jasia Akhtar who was the first women from Jammu and Kashmir to be selected for the India women's national cricket team[24] and Amir Hussain Lone who is the captain of Jammu and Kashmir's para cricket team.[25]

Since 2019, the police also have their own T20 cricket tournament.[26]

As of 2020, Abdul Samad became the cricketer from Jammu and Kashmir with the most number of IPL matches. Parvez Rasool comes in second with 11 matches in the IPL.[27]

There is criticism related to excessive politicization and lack of professionalism and support in development of the sport in the region.[28][15]

Kashmiri youth playing cricket at Wular Lake, Bandipora district, Jammu and Kashmir.

Football in Jammu and Kashmir

Football, is also popular sport in Jammu and Kashmir, first came to Jammu and Kashmir in 1891-92 by Tyndale Biscoe.[29][30] The first time a football team from the region participated in the Santosh Trophy was in 1964.[29] There are around 500 football clubs in the region.[31]

Teams from Jammu and Kashmir which play in the I-League are Real Kashmir F.C. (division one) and Lonestar Kashmir F.C. (division two).[32][33] Mehrajuddin Wadoo from Srinagar has represented the India national football team and also plays in the Indian Super League.[34]

Jammu and Kashmir has produced nineteen international players[35] (from the school level to the senior team) such as Abdul Majeed Kakroo. Players from the region have been part of top football teams in India such as Mohun Bagan A.C. and East Bengal F.C. (such as Ishfaq Ahmed).[36] Basit Ahmed and Mohammed Renbar were chosen to play football with Sociedad Deportiva Lenense Proinastur (SD Lenense), a third division Spanish team, part of a public outreach program of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and J&K Football Association.[37][38] Other initiatives such as a football team for every village in the Kashmir Valley has also been initiated by the government in 2017.[30]

Night football, with "high-voltage floodlights" set up by the locals themselves, is well contested and attended despite various difficulties.[39]

Basketball in Jammu and Kashmir

Basketball is a sport which does not attract much attention in India but the condition is even worse in Jammu and Kashmir where political turmoil often undermines the potential of the players. Basketball was on the verge of a decline in 2015, but with the aid of a few administrators, the sport got a new lifeline in Jammu and Kashmir. Having created a strong base the state is trying to capitalise on the foundations to popularise basketball in Jammu and Kashmir.[40]

Snow rugby in Jammu and Kashmir

Snow rugby was introduced in Srinagar in 2004 and by 2018 around 3000 girls in the region participate in the sport.[41][42]

Marathons in Jammu and Kashmir

Marathons that have been conducted in the region include the Ladakh Marathon, the Great Tibetan Marathon and the Kashmir International Half Marathon. The Ladakh Marathon is recognised by Association of International Marathons and Distance Races and is one of the highest marathon in the world.[43][44]

Adventure sports in Jammu and Kashmir

Jammu and Kashmir, with its hilly terrain and swift flowing rivers, offers opportunities for water skiing, paragliding and mountaineering.[45][46][47]

Tsewang Paljor and Tsewang Samanla[48] from Leh was part India's first team to reach the summit of Mount Everest (from the North Col side). Sonam Wangyal, also from Leh, climbed Mount Everest when he was 23, making him the youngest person to do so at the time.[49]

Winter sports in Jammu and Kashmir

Jammu and Kashmir has opportunities for heliskiing, ice skating, ice hockey, snow autocross[50] and snowboarding.[47][46] National level winter sporting events that have taken place in Gulmarg include the alpine ski championship and the snowboarding championship.[51]

Khelo India Winter Games

Inauguration of the first Khelo India Winter Games in the presence of the sports minister

The National Winter Games were held in Gulmarg in 1996, 2004, 2008.[1] The second leg of the first Khelo India Winter Games were held between 7 and 11 March 2020 in Gulmarg.[2][3] Jammu and Kashmir won the most gold medals (26 gold, 29 silver, 21 bronze) while the Indian Army team came second with 8 gold medals.[4] Sports included alpine skiing, nordic skiing, snow baseball, ice hockey and snowshoeing.[4] 900 athletes from 20 states took part.[3] The second winter games were successfully held in Gulmarg between 26 February–2 March 2020.[52]

Snowshoe Run

Snowshoe run was held in Srinagar as a part of winter sports to uplift the winter sports in kashmir. This sport is usually played in Europe and was introduced in Kashmir for the first time.[53]

Infrastructure and institutions

Jammu and Kashmir has 19 stadiums, 23 training centers, three indoor sports complexes and 43 government maintained playing fields.[54] This includes Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium, TRC turf ground, Bakshi Stadium, Amar Singh Club Ground, Gandhi Memorial Science College Ground and the Maulana Azad Stadium.

Srinagar District also has two golf courses - Kashmir Golf Club and Royal Spring Golf Course.[55]

Institutions such as the Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering and Winter Sports provides mountaineering, skiing and adventure courses.[56]

Synthetic Turf Football Stadium, TRC Polo Ground

The TRC ground is Jammu and Kashmir's first football stadium. It has imported synthetic football turf. The synthetic turf for the stadium has been imported from Italy. The stadium has a capacity for 15000 spectators. The field is of international standard size.[57][58][59]

Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium

Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium is a cricket stadium located in Srinagar. It is home to the JKCA and Jammu and Kashmir cricket team which represents the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir in the Ranji Trophy and other domestic tournaments in the country. National Cricket Academy is currently constructing an indoor complex at the stadium.

Under construction

A new sports facility is under construction in south Kashmir’s Bijbhera. It is expected to be complete by 2021. Facilities include an "indoor stadium, a cricket ground of international standards, a football ground, hockey stadium, skating rink, cycle track, modular synthetic basketball court, volleyball and badminton courts."[60] On 12 September 2020, the e-foundation stone of the 'Shri Arun Jaitley Memorial Sports Complex' was laid.[61][62] On 19 September 2020, Suresh Raina, after meeting with the Lieutenant Governor, decided to set up cricket training academies in both Kashmir division and Jammu division.[63]

Jammu & Kashmir State Sports Council

Set up in 1959, the Jammu & Kashmir State Sports Council objectives include promoting sports activities in the State among the student and non-student youth, creating and developing sports infrastructure in various parts of the State and providing financial assistance and grants. The Organisation is headed by the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and the Sports Minister as its President and Vice-President respectively. The Sports Council functions at State, Divisional and District level.[64]

Awards

The government of Jammu and Kashmir has introduced various awards to inspire not only the sports people, but also coaches and sports associations. Following are some of these awards:

Sports Associations

There are over 40 official registered sports associations in the region such the J&K Cricket Association and the J&K Football Association. Other associations under the sports council include the J&K Yoga Association, J&K Cycling Association and the J&K Billiard and Snooker Association. Associations have also been set up for the deaf as well for veterans.[66][67]

Sports journalism in Jammu and Kashmir

Kashmir has its own dedicated monthly sports magazine "Kashmir Sports Watch". The first issue came out in April 2015 and has a subscription of nearly 12,000 copies per month.[16]

Salary controversy

Under the Rehab-e-Khel scheme, national and international level sports medalists hired as full-time instructors in government schools of Jammu and Kashmir earn only ₹3,000 a month as reported by Hindustan Times.[68]

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sports in Jammu and Kashmir.

References

Regatta organised by Tyndale Biscoe School in May 1948 during Jawaharlal Nehru's visit in 1948.
  1. 1 2 "Winter National Games". Indian Olympic Association. Archived from the original on 22 August 2020. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
  2. 1 2 Singh, Hijam Raju (12 February 2020). "5th National Winter Games torch run flagged off". The Economic Times. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 Ashiq, Peerzada (7 March 2020). "Khelo India Winter Games kicked off in J&K". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
  4. 1 2 3 Iveson, Ali (15 March 2020). "Hosts win 26 gold medals as first-ever Khelo India Winter Games conclude". Inside the Games. Archived from the original on 19 December 2020. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
  5. ↑ "Spectacular Closing Ceremony of 2nd Khelo India National Winter Games organized at Gulmarg". Kashmir News Service. 2 March 2021. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  6. 1 2 Ward, A. E. (1896). The Sportsman's Guide to Kashmir & Ladak, & C. (4 ed.). Calcutta: Calcutta Central Press. pp. Introduction.
  7. ↑ "Jammu and Kashmir Game Preservation Act 1998" (PDF). jkarchives.nic.in. Jammu: Ranbir Government Press. 1942. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  8. ↑ "In major push to sports, Jammu and Kashmir government announces a football club for every Valley village". India Today. 16 May 2017. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  9. ↑ "Kashmir boys to play in Spanish football club". India Today. 6 January 2017. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  10. ↑ "Sports Minister Vijay Goel interacts with youth of Jammu and Kashmir". The Indian Express. 27 April 2017. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  11. ↑ Venkatesan, S. Prasanna (26 January 2018). "Against all odds". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  12. ↑ "Becoming coach of J&K cricket team an honor for me: Kapil Dev". UNI.
  13. ↑ "Army encourages aspirations of new age Kashmiri youth". Defence Info India | Defence News & Views of India, Analysis of Indian Defence. 22 October 2015. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
  14. ↑ "Jammu and Kashmir needs 2,500 playfields, says State Sport Council - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
  15. 1 2 "Beyond a Boundary: Cricket in Jammu and Kashmir is about playing with little support". The Indian Express. 23 March 2014. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
  16. 1 2 Gupta, Amit (16 October 2020). "Sports in Kashmir: How 5 journalists run a magazine that focuses on local sports". Mumbai Mirror. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  17. ↑ "Modi asks Kohli about Yo-Yo test, praises J&K woman footballer Afshan Ashiq". The Hindu. PTI. 24 September 2020. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 24 September 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  18. ↑ Ashiq, Peerzada (30 December 2017). "A story of rocks, papers, and soccer: Meet Kashmiri footballer Afshan Ashiq". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  19. ↑ "Kickboxing sensation from Kashmir Tajamul Islam's rise to glory". India Today. 16 November 2016. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  20. ↑ "Akbar Khan: The poster boy of cycling in Kashmir". Dafanews India. 7 August 2020. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  21. ↑ "Irfan Pathan holds cricket selections in Kashmir". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
  22. ↑ "IPL 2018: Parvez Rasool, Umar Nazir miss out, Kashmir hails Manzoor Dar entry". The Financial Express. 28 January 2018. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
  23. ↑ "Jammu & Kashmir Squad". Cricinfo. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
  24. ↑ "Kashmiri cricketer Jasia Akhtar nurtures big dreams after national camp call-up". Hindustan Times. 11 September 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
  25. ↑ Raj, Rohan (14 September 2017). "Between Bullets & Death: The Story Of These J&K Cricketers Is An Inspiration For All Youth". MensXP. Archived from the original on 24 May 2022. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  26. ↑ "LG inaugurates Police Premier League cricket tournament in Srinagar". Greater Jammu. 20 September 2020. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  27. ↑ "Abdul Samad becomes J&K cricketer with most matches in IPL". Kashmir Sports Watch. 8 November 2020. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  28. ↑ "The tragedy of Jammu & Kashmir cricket: Abdullah and Ansari are two sides of same coin - Firstpost". www.firstpost.com. 23 July 2015. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
  29. 1 2 "History Of Football in Kashmir". www.kashmirfc.com. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
  30. 1 2 "In major push to sports, Jammu and Kashmir government announces a football club for every Valley village". India Today. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
  31. ↑ Qadri, Anjum (12 October 2020). "Opinion: Sports Redefined- a new hope for Kashmir". The RealKashmir News. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  32. ↑ "Real Kashmir FC like a whiff of fresh air in troubled Valley". Hindustan Times. 7 November 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
  33. ↑ "Real Kashmir FC become first J&K football team to gain I-League promotion". Hindustan Times. 30 May 2018. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
  34. ↑ "The official Website of the Hero Indian Super League". Indian Super League. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
  35. ↑ Desai, Shail (16 December 2017). "Football finds its post again in Kashmir". Livemint. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
  36. ↑ "Two Kashmiri footballers receive call-up for Spain's La Liga". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
  37. ↑ "2 Kashmiri boys to play 3rd division Spanish football". Deccan Chronicle. 7 January 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
  38. ↑ "Two Kashmiri teenagers chosen for Spanish club". The Hindu. 7 January 2017. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
  39. ↑ Fayaz, Aaqib (16 July 2020). "How Night Football In Jammu And Kashmir Is Bringing Relief To Sports Lovers Amid COVID-19 Lockdown". Outlook India. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  40. ↑ "Keeping basketball alive in Jammu and Kashmir". The Bridge. 19 January 2018. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  41. ↑ Sharma, Nitin (23 June 2018). "J&K Women's Rugby Team: A coach cheers up team after loss, got own ground just six months ago". The Indian Express. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  42. ↑ Das, Ria (1 January 2018). "Meet Soliha Yousuf, Captain J&K Women's Rugby Team". SheThePeople TV. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  43. ↑ "LAHDC organises 3rd Ladakh Marathon at Leh". Business Standard India. Press Trust of India. 15 September 2014. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
  44. ↑ "The Great Tibetan Marathon 2010 Official Website | Running on top of the world!". www.great-tibetan-marathon.org. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
  45. ↑ "Top 25 Things to do in Jammu & Kashmir: Tour My India". Tour My India. 15 February 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  46. 1 2 "Multi-pronged strategy to make JK global tourist destinations". India Today. 29 January 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  47. 1 2 "Gorgeous, exotic Gulmarg! Ski-resort turns simply stunning this winters; see pics". The Financial Express. 15 January 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  48. ↑ "ITBPF". 2 January 2014. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
  49. ↑ "50 years later, it's happily Everest after - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
  50. ↑ "Dr Sharmeen to become Jammu and Kashmir's first female snow racer". Asian Age. 10 January 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  51. ↑ Nabi, Wasim (8 February 2014). "Gulmarg gears up for first winter sport mega event". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
  52. ↑ "J&K tops medals tally at Khelo India Winter National Games in Gulmarg". News on Air. All India Radio. 3 March 2021. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  53. ↑ Staff Writer (17 January 2021). "Srinagar's first-ever snowshoe run organised to boost winter sports". mint. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  54. ↑ "Department of Youth Services & Sports". dteyssjk.nic.in. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  55. ↑ "Sports in Srinagar, Sports Shops in Srinagar, Ice Skating in Srinagar". www.srinagaronline.in. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  56. ↑ "Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering and Winter Sports, Nunwan, Pahalgam". www.jawaharinstitutepahalgam.com. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
  57. ↑ "J&K gets its first synthetic turf football stadium - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  58. ↑ "Omar inaugurates Kashmir's first synthetic turf football stadium". Hindustan Times. 3 September 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  59. ↑ "J&K gets its first synthetic turf football stadium". The Hindu. PTI, PTI. 9 September 2014. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 4 February 2018.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  60. ↑ "New sports complex to tap south Kashmir's talent reservoir". Hindustan Times. 21 September 2020. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  61. ↑ "Sports complex in Jammu named after Jaitley". The Hindu. 13 September 2020. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  62. ↑ "Jammu Gets Rs. 58.23 Crore State of Art Sports Complex". Kashmir Observer. 12 September 2020. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  63. ↑ "Suresh Raina to set up cricket academy in Jammu and Kashmir". The Indian Express. PTI. 19 September 2020. Retrieved 24 September 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  64. ↑ "About - Jammu & Kashmir State Sports Council". Jammu & Kashmir State Sports Council. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  65. ↑ "CM approves conferment of Sher-I-Kashmir Sports, Parshuram Awards". Kashmir Reader. 26 January 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  66. ↑ "J&K Veteran Athletics Association - Jammu & Kashmir State Sports Council". Jammu & Kashmir State Sports Council. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
  67. ↑ "Sports Associations - J&K State Sports Council". Jammu & Kashmir State Sports Council. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
  68. ↑ Duggal, Saurabh (1 July 2020). "In J&K, sports teachers are paid just one-sixth of a peon's salary". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
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