Sports beyond the field

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha’s inauguration of the two-day National Level Sports Conference SRIJAN in Jammu is more than a ceremonial event—it reflects a growing recognition that sports must occupy a central place in the lives of young people in Jammu and Kashmir. Organised by the Department of Youth Services and Sports, the conference aims to move beyond discussion and identify practical strategies to strengthen the region’s sports ecosystem, align local efforts with the National Sports Policy 2025 and the J&K Sports Policy 2022, and prepare a generation that is resilient and ready for the future.
At the heart of the Lieutenant Governor’s address was a simple but powerful idea: sports must be linked with education and life skills. When integrated into the education system, sports cease to be an optional pastime and become a meaningful tool for holistic development. They help young people grow not only physically, but also emotionally and socially—qualities that are essential in shaping responsible citizens.
Sports, Sinha noted, is a unifying force. It builds character, teaches discipline, and instills leadership through real-life experience. For the youth, especially in a region that has faced its share of challenges, sports can act as a real-life classroom—one that promotes empowerment, social awareness, and collective progress.
The Lieutenant Governor was unequivocal in stressing that sports must be kept free from political interference. Talent, he observed, can only flourish in a peaceful and fair environment. To realise India’s ambition of becoming a true sporting powerhouse, sports and politics must remain separate. Any interference not only undermines merit but also risks denying talented young athletes the opportunities they rightfully deserve.
Calling for transparency and trust, Sinha emphasized the need for a system where there is no doubt about selection processes. Such clarity, he suggested, is essential to restore faith among athletes and encourage them to pursue excellence without fear or favour.
The administration’s commitment to strengthening grassroots sports infrastructure and providing full support to sportspersons was also reiterated. Equally important was his call to encourage greater participation of women and youth, and to address the social and structural barriers that often limit their involvement. Sports, he stressed, must become an inclusive space where opportunity is not determined by gender or background.
Sinha also urged policymakers and industry leaders to see sports as a shared responsibility and a platform for creating new avenues of opportunity. Investing in sports, he remarked, is ultimately an investment in disciplined citizens and a confident future capable of shaping the nation’s destiny.
Commending the Department of Youth Services and Sports for organising SRIJAN, the Lieutenant Governor acknowledged its efforts in improving governance, participation, and athlete development. At the same time, he called upon sports councils, federations, and administrators to develop focused and forward-looking strategies aimed at improving performance on the international stage.
The message from the conference is clear: to truly build a sporting culture in Jammu and Kashmir, sports must be woven into everyday community life and firmly connected with education and life skills. Only then can talent be nurtured, trust restored, and young dreams given the space they need to succeed.