BUDGAM: A grand provincial-level inter-district Volleyball tournament for all age groups viz. Under-14, Under-17, and Under-19 was officially inaugurated today by Deputy Commissioner (DC) Budgam, Dr. Bilal Mohi-Ud-Din Bhat, at the picturesque Charar-i-Sharief Khel Maidan.
The tournament, hosted for the first time in Budgam district at this scale, witnessed enthusiastic participation from teams across various districts of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The event aims to promote sports culture, channel youth energy positively, and identify emerging talent at the grassroots level.
Speaking at the inauguration, DC emphasized the critical role of sports in youth empowerment and drug de-addiction. “By developing sports infrastructure across the district, particularly in rural areas, we can effectively counter the menace of drug abuse. Youth, when attracted to sports activities, are less likely to fall into negative influences,” he remarked.
He highlighted the district administration’s vision of creating a vibrant sporting ecosystem.
“Our dream is to ensure that every panchayat has its own sports field—be it a volleyball court, a cricket ground, or any other facility. We want Budgam to emerge as a hub for national-level sporting events. In fact, we have already proposed the development of major playfields that can host such prestigious national level tournaments in the near future,” said DC.
He further expressed pride and satisfaction in hosting this inter-district event, calling it a significant milestone.
DC also reiterated the importance of Jan Bhagidari (public participation) in building a sports-oriented society. He said, “Through Jan Bhagidari, we can make our youth proactive, as sports not only build physical strength but also enhance cognitive abilities and overall personality.”
The tournament at Charar-i-Sharief is being organized in collaboration with the Department of Youth Services & Sports and is part of a broader campaign to promote healthy lifestyles, community participation, and athletic excellence across J&K. The tournament includes participation from 10 districts across the Kashmir Division.
DC was accompanied by ADC Budgam, JD Planning Budgam, SDM Chadoora, Tehsildar and District Sports Officer Budgam besides other concerned officials.