Kashmiri youth are gradually excelling in the sports sector, thanks to the support and initiatives of the Indian Army. Sports activities are the newfound love and the leading recreational and leisure activity for the region’s youth. In these changing times, sports have turned into a much sought-after career option for the youth who have started pursuing sports professionally. Especially after the recent success of their favourite sport, Cricket, IPL played a crucial role in inspiring youth to pursue cricket as their career. The Indian Army, which carries out various sports activities in the region through welfare initiatives like Operation Sadbhavana, is allowing youth to achieve their goals. The Indian Army provided the basic infrastructure and initial push required for sports in the state. Their initiatives to fund young sportspersons and distribute sports equipment have engaged the youth effectively. Additionally, it has helped in keeping them away from the radicalisation. The success of the UT administration and the Army in providing sports facilities to young people is a testament to the success of these initiatives. Many national and international players visited Kashmir to participate in Legend’s Cricket League.

Football is the most popular sport in the region, and Kashmir has produced some remarkable players. The first football academy in the UT of J and K was opened in 1891 with the help of Tyndale Biscoe School. Since then, nineteen international football players have been produced in Kashmir. Kashmir’s most famous football player is Abdul Majeed Kakroo, who played as a striker and became the first Kashmiri player to captain the Indian national football team. Later, he played for two of the biggest football clubs in India, Mohan Bagan and East Bengal. Another footballer from the region is Muheet Shabir; he is the star attraction of the Kerala Blasters football club. This young goalkeeper started his odyssey at J and K Football Academy and is ranked among its best products. In the present era, Afsan Ashiq is the captain and goalkeeper of the J and K Women’s Football Team. Afsan Ashiq transformed from being a stone pelter to a footballer with the efforts of J and K Police who catapulted her into the national media. Her success in the sport speaks volumes about how sports can divert the attention of youth away from radicalisation.

Cricket is steadily gaining in popularity index in the valley. Kashmiri youth spend most of their leisure time in village playgrounds. Jasia Akhtar is the first woman from Kashmir to be selected for India’s Women’s National Cricket Team. Kashmir Valley has produced players like Parvez Rasool Zargar, an all-rounder. He is currently the captain of the Jammu and Kashmir team and a regular member of the India A team. Rasool was the first cricketer from Jammu and Kashmir to have played in the IPL. Besides Parvez Rasool, Abdul Samad, Umran Malik, and Rasikh Salaam have been regular players and famous names in the IPL.

Sports like basketball, adventure sports and ice sports are now being explored in the valley since the rich geographical specialities of Kashmir offer great scope for adventure sports. With the pace of development and innovations in infrastructure, Kashmir is expected to produce world-class players in the future. The UT has come a long way in developing sports infrastructure and institutes for sporting activities. Valley hosts nineteen sports stadiums, twenty-three training centres, three indoor sports complexes, and forty-three government-maintained play fields. Srinagar alone comprises two Golf courses. The institutions like the Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering and Winter Sports offer mountaineering, skiing and adventure courses for people from all across the country. More than forty officially registered sports associations in the valley are responsible for conducting the respective sports meets and identifying and selecting talent in the UT. Emerging sportsmen/women can also fine-tune their abilities and make their careers. With more and more people choosing sports over pelting stones and anti-national activities, the day is close when Kashmir produces the best sports talent in the world and truly becomes an Abode for sports. Sports initiatives have aided in the growth and development of youth in the valley. Sports in Jammu and Kashmir must be prioritised through synchronised efforts from all stakeholders to enable the youth to achieve their respective goals. It has vast potential in Kashmir, which is evident from the numerous sports stars emerging on the national stage in recent years. Women and girls are leading every sports sector, giving tough competition to their male counterparts. The day is close when the Kashmiri sportsmen and women athletes will shine globally, making their mark on the International Sports Stage.