J&K Gets Its First National Centre of Excellence in Sports
In a post on ‘X’, the Lt. Governor said the proposed centre would serve as a premier national hub for high-altitude sports and a wide range of athletic competitions. He said the facility would also play a crucial role in training and skilling thousands of young sportspersons across multiple disciplines
SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya for approving Jammu and Kashmir’s first National Centre of Excellence (NCOE) at Awantipora in Pulwama district, calling it a landmark step for the Union Territory’s sporting future.
In a post on ‘X’, the Lt. Governor said the proposed centre would serve as a premier national hub for high-altitude sports and a wide range of athletic competitions. He said the facility would also play a crucial role in training and skilling thousands of young sportspersons across multiple disciplines.
The approval of the NCOE is expected to significantly strengthen J&K’s sports infrastructure and create new opportunities for youth from the region to compete at national and international levels.
According to officials, the NCOE campus will include athletics tracks, indoor courts, football turf, hockey turfs, kabaddi and kho-kho courts, a shooting range, swimming pool, taekwondo hall, integrated strength and conditioning and rehabilitation complex, hostels, a sports science centre, and a sports medicine centre.
“This state-of-the-art Centre will bring world-class infrastructure and elite coaching right to our Union Territory, training the next generation of Olympic and international champions,” Sinha said.
The Lt. Governor said the centre would not only help identify and nurture sporting talent but would also position J&K as an emerging destination for specialised sports training, particularly in high-altitude disciplines.
The project is being seen as a major push for sports development in the Union Territory. With advanced training facilities, scientific support systems, residential infrastructure and professional coaching, the NCOE is expected to provide young athletes access to facilities that were previously available only at select national-level centres.
Earlier in the day, Lt. Governor reviewed security and logistical arrangements for the annual Amarnath Yatra in Pahalgam and said that all necessary measures have been put in place to ensure a safe, smooth and well-coordinated pilgrimage.
Speaking to reporters after chairing a high-level review meeting, Sinha said the J&K administration, security forces and various government agencies were working in close coordination to make the Yatra successful.
He said the meeting focused on security preparedness, pilgrim facilities, traffic management, healthcare support, sanitation, accommodation and other essential services. Sinha expressed satisfaction over the arrangements made so far and directed all departments to maintain close coordination throughout the pilgrimage period.
The Lt. Governor said devotees from across the country could undertake the pilgrimage with confidence, adding that the administration and security agencies were committed to ensuring a secure and comfortable journey for every pilgrim.
He also said the people of Kashmir were ready to welcome the pilgrims and would extend full support during the annual religious event, which holds deep spiritual significance for devotees across the country.
The 57-day Amarnath Yatra is scheduled to commence on July 3 and conclude on August 28 amid heightened security measures and extensive administrative preparations.
