The 18th UT J&K Wushu Championship commenced at the Indoor Hall, Bhagwati Nagar, Jammu, with a remarkable participation of nearly 1200 athletes from 19 districts, six Khelo India centers, and the J&K Police. The four-day event was officially inaugurated by Nasir Aslam Wani, Advisor to the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, who lauded the efforts of the Wushu Association in expanding the sport across the Union Territory.
In his address, Wani praised the progress of Wushu in J&K, particularly highlighting the significant contributions of Kuldeep Handoo, who has played a key role in promoting the sport in the region. He also took a moment to recognize the medalists from the 38th National Games in Uttarakhand, further motivating the athletes.
“Sports play a crucial role in shaping the youth of the region, promoting qualities such as discipline, determination, and self-confidence,” said Wani. He went on to emphasize the government’s vision of transforming J&K into a sports hub and encouraged parents to support their children’s participation in sports as a means to keep them away from drugs and other distractions, particularly mobile phones.
During the event, Wani felicitated the medalists from the 38th National Games as well as the IWUF Wing Chun Championships in China. The gold medalists included Surya Bhanu Partap Singh and Kamran Mohd Shamas, while Ayeera Chisti secured a silver medal, and Ishant Singh, Rohan Sharma, Saleem Kumar, and Arjun Sharma each earned a bronze.
The Vice President of the Wushu Association, Ranjeet Karla, delivered the welcome address, expressing gratitude to the Advisor for inaugurating the event. Kuldeep Handoo, in his vote of thanks, appealed to the government to establish a dedicated Wushu Academy in J&K to nurture and develop future sporting talent in the region.
The competition will continue with athletes competing in sub-junior and junior categories for medals, fostering healthy competition and promoting the sport at the grassroots level.
Among the notable guests in attendance were Rajeev Sharma (Member, Sports Council), Touseef Raina (Mayor, Baramulla), Sadat Aslam Wani (Vice President), Ritika Singh (Manager), Pawan Deep Kour (Athletic), Maqsood Rather (Jt. Secretary), Ranjeet Singh (International Footballer), Ajay Paul Gill, and Nissar Ahmed Mir.
The ongoing championship has garnered significant attention and enthusiasm, further highlighting Jammu and Kashmir’s growing prominence in the world of sports.
