Jammu, May 14: Senior Advocate, Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh High Court, Chief Spokesperson Bhartiya Janta Party and Member Legal Affairs JKCA, Sunil Sethi declared open the ‘Cricket for Peace’ Tournament Talent Hunt 2022, being organised by Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) at GGM Science College Hostel Ground on Saturday.
Former First Class Cricketers Ashok Singh and Randhir Singh Jamwal were the guests of honour and Col Akshay Dogra, Commanding Officer was the special guest.
The chief guest was welcomed by Brig Anil Gupta, Member-Administration with a memento, a badge and a cricket hat.
The chief guest declared the tournament open by releasing colourful balloons and playing a few balls to test his cricketing skills.
Earlier, the chief guest honoured two former First Class Cricketers namely Ashok Singh and Randhir Singh Jamwal for their outstanding contribution in the field of Cricket.
A colourful cultural programme was presented by the artists of Talent World Dance House led by Baniket, which mesmerized the audience. This cultural programme was followed by a beautiful pipe and drum display presentation by 17Garhwal Rifles. A marvelous presentation of Sarswati Vandana by 6-year old Vanshika Kaw was really a delight to watch.
The chief guest also honoured JKCA Under-19 women team members including Support Staff with certificates and also honoured JKCA Under-16 men’s team and Support Staff with Kit Bags.
On the occasion, a handbook of cricket events and achievements of JKCA, prepared by Roopali Slathia, Member Cricket Advisory Committee under the guidance of Sub Committee Members, was also released by the dignitaries on the occasion.
Earlier, while briefing about the Talent Hunt 2022 and Tournament details, the hosts of the programme informed that it is the first of its kind tournament ever being held by JKCA which will spread for a period of three months from May 14 to August 14, 2022.
They said that it is the series of seven tournaments including U-19 women, U-19 men, U-23 men, senior women and senior men.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Sethi while terming the event historic, said that the sportspersons were the messengers of peace, harmony and prosperity.
He said, ”It was really a great initiative of the Association which involved around 8,000 cricketers across the Union Territory, adding that channelizing youth energy was the need of the hour and involving youth in sporting activities is the best way to help them not to derail from the mainstream and not to fall prey to drugs and other social evils.”
Later-on, Brig Anil Gupta presented vote of thanks and extended the same to the chief guest, other dignitaries for gracing the occasion and presented special thanks to the media fraternity for giving wide coverage to the event.
“We provided cricketers an opportunity and they were keen to deliver. JKCA is committed to provide a transparent system and it is the players and the officials to make judicious use of the same. Around 8,000 cricketers have attended the trials and around 650 got the selectors nod. Time is ripe to produce a galaxy of Umran’s and likes from the Union Territory,” added Brig Gupta.
The proceedings of the opening ceremony were conducted by Rajesh Dhar and Surabhi Dadheechi.
It is pertinent to mention here that Ashwani Gupta, former First Class cricketer was the Talent Hunt Incharge of Jammu Province, while Former First Class Cricketer Abdul Qayoom was the Talent Hunt Incharge of Kashmir province including Ladakh and Roopali Slathia was the Talent Incharge for Women in both the regions and Ladakh.