logo
Sportspersons serve as ambassadors; messengers of peace: DG J&K YSS

Sportspersons serve as ambassadors; messengers of peace: DG J&K YSS

Jammu, June 16 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir Director General Youth Services and Sports, Anuradha Gupta, on Monday termed sportspersons as the messengers of peace, prosperity, and harmony, stating that these personalities often serve as brand ambassadors due to their influence, popularity, and ability to connect with wide audiences.
Anuradha this morning flagged off the J&K contingent for the 78th Senior National Aquatic Championship here from Maulana Azad Stadium.
A contingent of 10 swimmers with 5 men and 5 women, selected on merit, will be proceeding for the event to be organised by the Swimming Federation of India at Bhuvneshwar in Odisha from June 22 to 26.
Congratulating J&K Swimming Association for its endeavours in providing playing opportunities to J&K youth and promoting sports in every nook and corner of the Union Territory, Anuradha said that J&K possessed immense sporting talent and the dire need is to hone it at the grassroots level.
She wished the contingent the best of luck and advised them to play the game with sporting spirit and preserve the sanctity of the same.
Hoping for a good show from these swimmers at the national scene, the DG J&K YSS advised them to give their best and bring laurels for themselves, their parents, coaches, mentors and the Union Territory as well.
She advised the athletes to leave no stone unturned in blossoming at the national scene and give a message to the society that sports and games serve as the best tool to empower the nation.
Organised by Jammu and Kashmir Swimming Association, the Flag Off Ceremony was held under the overall supervision of President J&K Swimming Association, Ramandeep Singh Soodan, General Secretary, Bharat Kumar Sharma; Joint Secretary Cum Coach Babita Rani and Treasurer Vikas Mahajan.
UNI VBH ARN

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Carlos Alcaraz aims to join Borg, Federer elite club
Carlos Alcaraz aims to join Borg, Federer elite club

United News of India

time4 hours ago

  • United News of India

Carlos Alcaraz aims to join Borg, Federer elite club

London, June 29 (UNI) As the Wimbledon 2025 campaign progresses, all eyes are on Spain's Carlos Alcaraz, who is aiming to win his third consecutive title at the All England Club. The 22-year-old sensation has emerged as the face of men's tennis in the post-Federer-Nadal-Djokovic era, demonstrating remarkable consistency, flair, and maturity well beyond his age. After capturing his first Wimbledon crown in 2023 — in only his fourth tournament on grass — and repeating the feat in 2024 by completing the rare 'Channel Slam' (winning both Roland-Garros and Wimbledon in the same year), Alcaraz now attempts to join the elite company of Bjorn Borg, Pete Sampras, Roger Federer, and Novak Djokovic as the only men in the Open Era to lift three consecutive Wimbledon titles. The young Spaniard already has four Grand Slam titles to his name and became the youngest-ever World No. 1 after his 2022 US Open triumph. He has also claimed an Olympic silver medal and titles on all surfaces, establishing himself as a complete and dynamic player. Djokovic, who lost to Alcaraz in the 2023 Wimbledon final, hailed him as 'the most complete player' he has faced, praising his adaptability, defensive skills, and mental resilience. Off the court, Alcaraz remains grounded. His Netflix docuseries Carlos Alcaraz: My Way, released in April this year, has offered fans a rare glimpse into his life, adding to his growing global popularity. Known for his sportsmanship, humility, and ever-present smile, Alcaraz has won admirers across the tennis world. Speaking about his aspirations, Alcaraz said, 'At the end of my career, I want to sit at the same table as the big guys. I don't know my limit. I just want to keep enjoying my moment, keep dreaming.' With Italian star Jannik Sinner emerging as his primary rival on the circuit, the coming years could witness a fresh era of great tennis rivalries. As Wimbledon enters its decisive phase, tennis fans and experts alike agree that men's tennis is in safe hands — with Alcaraz leading the way into a new golden era. UNI BDN SSP

Elite Women's Boxing Tournament: Ankushita Boro, Nikhat Zareen reach semifinals
Elite Women's Boxing Tournament: Ankushita Boro, Nikhat Zareen reach semifinals

United News of India

time12 hours ago

  • United News of India

Elite Women's Boxing Tournament: Ankushita Boro, Nikhat Zareen reach semifinals

Hyderabad, June 29 (UNI) Former youth world champion Ankushita Boro showcased her class on Day 2 of the Elite Women's Boxing Tournament, advancing to the semifinals in the 65kg category with a clinical 5:0 win over Rajasthan pugilist Parthvi on Sunday. Meanwhile, in the 51kg division, home favourite and two-time world champion Nikhat Zareen delighted the Hyderabad crowd with a dominant 5:0 victory over Kalpana. Organised by the Telangana Boxing Federation under the aegis of the Boxing Federation of India(BFI) and the Sports Authority of Telangana, the tournament brings together top-tier names and emerging prospects from across the country. With 15 participating units- including 12 best from the recent Elite Nationals, host Telangana, the SAI NCOE Combined team, and the TOPS Talent & Development squad- the competition is part of BFI's ongoing initiative to refine the national pool and scout future stars. Other notable quarterfinal results saw Preeti (54kg), Jyoti (51kg), and Devika Ghorpade (51kg) book their semifinal berths with clean, unanimous wins. Tamil Nadu's V. Lakshaya (51kg) impressed with a 5:0 win over Laxmi Devi, while Tanu (54kg), Shashi (65kg), and Yashi Sharma (65kg) also moved ahead after solid outings. Ankushita's TOPS teammate Gitimoni Gogoi advanced in 70kg via RSC, and Babirojsana Chanu (57kg) registered a stoppage win in the second round. The tournament, serving as a gateway to the elite national camp in Patiala, continues at the Saroornagar Indoor Stadium, Hyderabad, with semifinals scheduled for Monday. UNI RKM

Mandhana scores maiden T20I ton, leads India to a 97 run win
Mandhana scores maiden T20I ton, leads India to a 97 run win

United News of India

time12 hours ago

  • United News of India

Mandhana scores maiden T20I ton, leads India to a 97 run win

Nottingham, June 29 (UNI) Standing in as captain for the injured Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana led from the front in style, scoring her maiden T20I century in the first match against England at Nottingham. Her brilliant 112 helped India to a commanding 97-run victory. While it marked a significant personal milestone, Mandhana admitted that T20Is don't come naturally to her due to her preference for timing over power-hitting. "It's a nice feeling because, of course, this format is something which, for me as a batter, I need to keep pushing and keep improving. "It's not a very natural format for me because I like to time the ball, not a big hitter of the ball, and for the last six years, it's always a work in progress and it's still a work in progress." The 28-year-old expressed her desire to build on this knock and notch up more big scores in the format. "So, to actually get a hundred in this format, of course, getting it before in Test cricket and One Day cricket which are more suited to my batting [was significant as well], but getting it in this format is pretty special because it's not one of my strengths. I mean, the improvement and I'm trying to work a lot on my power hitting and to see that come through, which is a really nice feeling." The captain threw her support behind opening partner Shafali Verma, expressing confidence that runs would soon follow for the young batter. Shafali returned to the Indian setup after being left out in late 2024, but her comeback got off to a mixed start as she struggled for fluency, managing 20 off 22 balls. "I've seen Shafali bat in the last seven-eight days, [she did] amazingly well in the nets," Mandhana said. "So I don't see a big knock is too far because of the way she's been hitting the ball. Sometimes coming back into the Indian team and coming into the first match, of course, there are a different kind of nerves. I'm sure this match is going to take those nerves away for her. Mandhana learned she would be captaining in the first T20I just two hours before the match, after regular skipper Harmanpreet Kaur was ruled out due to a head knock sustained in Wednesday's warm-up game. Despite the late call-up, Mandhana assured that captaincy doesn't affect her batting. "As a batter, it doesn't change a lot. You don't think that you are captaining and you bat differently. Whenever you have the bat in hand, you have to do the job for the team regardless of the position you are in, so I'm really happy that I could contribute today." UNI RKM

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store