Sopore, Oct 05: The first-ever North Kashmir Sports Festival, and the region’s first women’s sports festival, began at Government Degree College (GDC) for Women, Sopore, on Monday, with around 900 athletes from across the valley’s northern belt set to compete over three days.
Details available with Kashmir Convener, the event was inaugurated by Commissioner Secretary Higher Education Ram Nivas Sharma (IAS) as Chief Guest. Secretary Higher Education Safqat Iqbal and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sopore Iftikhar Talib attended as Guests of Honour, along with Prof. Subeena Chiloo, Principal of the host college and a key organiser of the festival.
The proceedings opened with an ‘Izband’ ceremony performed by students of the college, invoking local tradition before the sporting competition began.
The dignitaries felicitated the Chief Guest, Guests of Honour and stakeholders behind the event, including Event Sponsor Ajaiz Ahmad Bhat of Lazzat Masala and Executive Engineer Javed Hussain Faktoo. Physical Directors from across North Kashmir were also recognised for their contributions to physical education.
Prof. Subeena Chiloo delivered the welcome address. The inaugural session saw the release of the college’s Bi-Annual Newsletter and its Annual College Magazine, ‘MEHAK’.
According to officials, the scale of the event is unprecedented for the region. Approximately 900 athletes representing 14 Degree Colleges and 5 Higher Secondary Schools from across North Kashmir will compete in seven sports disciplines over the next three days.
Dr. Tanvir Ahmad Bhat, the College Physical Director and Sports Coordinator, presented a note outlining the structure and significance of the event. Prof. Zubair Syed Masoodi conducted the proceedings, while Prof. Pervez Ahmad Dar closed the ceremony with a vote of thanks.
The festival, officials said, reflects the Higher Education Department’s push for holistic development through sports and offers a platform for the youth of North Kashmir to compete at scale.
Principals of Degree Colleges and Higher Secondary Schools from across North Kashmir, along with members of the local media fraternity, attended the opening ceremony.
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