Srinagar, Aug 29: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday called for a stronger grassroots sports ecosystem in the Union Territory, urging institutions, coaches, parents and corporate houses to invest in athletes well before they win medals.
Addressing a National Sports Day event, Sinha paid tribute to hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand and said the sporting icon had become a symbol of India’s identity through his achievements on the international stage.
“I believe that in that era, Major Dhyan Chand himself became an embodiment of India’s identity, and his stick became a symbol of his unwavering willpower, his dedication on the sporting field and his discipline,” Sinha said.
He described sport as a powerful tool for character-building and nation-building, arguing that sporting success was not limited to medals.
“Sport is life’s most honest teacher,” he said. “It tells you exactly where you stand today and what you need to do to become better tomorrow.”
“There is no shortcut on the sporting field. There is no place for excuses in hockey either. There is only hard work, opportunity and a test of your character,” he added.
Sinha said Jammu and Kashmir’s young athletes represented the region’s potential and India’s future.
“Today, when I look at the young athletes of Jammu and Kashmir, I see India’s bright future in them,” he said, congratulating the athletes honoured at the event.
Calling for greater access to professional training, he said athletes from smaller towns and rural areas should have access to facilities comparable to those available in Jammu and Srinagar.
“We want to see a farmer’s child in Reasi or Shopian receive the same scientific and technical training in different sports disciplines that a player practising at a centre of excellence in Srinagar or Jammu receives,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor also called for sports science and sports management to be strengthened as academic disciplines.
“We need to consider how sports science and sports management can emerge as subjects in universities and institutions, and how our institutions can produce trainers, sports managers, physiotherapists and technical experts in sports,” he said.
Sinha said Jammu and Kashmir should aspire not only to participate in international sporting competitions but also to host them.
“We want to see a Jammu and Kashmir that does not merely participate in international games, but is itself capable of hosting international games and is ready to welcome the entire world,” he said.
He expressed confidence in the potential of the region’s athletes, saying their achievements could gain global recognition.
“We believe that in the coming two years, the world will see the dreams of Jammu and Kashmir’s athletes being transformed into discipline and action,” Sinha said.
He also stressed that sporting development could not be left entirely to governments and called for greater private-sector participation.
“The future is not built only by the efforts of governments. The future is built by those who refuse to give up,” he said.
Addressing young athletes, Sinha urged them to maintain discipline and perseverance. “Believe in yourself. The country will certainly believe in you,” he said.
He also highlighted the contribution of people working behind the scenes, including coaches, support staff and parents.
“Our coaches, support staff and parents are the unique creators behind every medal that Jammu and Kashmir is winning today,” Sinha said.
“History certainly remembers the athlete standing on the stage, but I think we now need to reflect on the fact that we should also remember those who always stand behind the stage as your strength.”
Sinha further linked sporting success with India’s broader development, saying the country’s progress should not be assessed solely through economic indicators.
“Development is not measured only by GDP,” he said. “It is also measured by the energy of our youth, and by the pride with which the Indian tricolour flies on the world’s biggest sporting stages.”
He urged corporate houses operating in Jammu and Kashmir to support promising athletes before they achieve medal-winning success.
“Do not wait until an athlete wins a medal to provide support,” Sinha said. “Rather, help identify and nurture the talent that is being recognised before the medal is won, in our villages, small towns and streets.”
