Srinagar, June 11:
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha attended the closing ceremony of the ALFA Hockey Inter-School Tournament 2026 at the Synthetic Hockey Astro Turf, Polo Ground in Srinagar on Thursday.
The tournament witnessed participation from 32 schools across several districts, including Kupwara, Bandipora, Kulgam and Shopian, providing a platform for young hockey players to showcase their talent and skills.
Addressing the gathering, the Lieutenant Governor congratulated the winners and participants for their impressive performances and appreciated the joint efforts of the J&K Sports Council, Badal Hockey Club, and Hockey Jammu & Kashmir in organizing the event.
He said the tournament was aimed at much more than winning matches, as it offered young athletes an opportunity to discover and develop their sporting potential.
Highlighting the growth of hockey in Jammu and Kashmir over recent years, LG Sinha said investments in sports infrastructure, grassroots competitions and community engagement have significantly increased the popularity of the sport across the Union Territory.
“It is our aim to see more schools and more young players take up hockey in the coming years and establish Jammu Kashmir as a cradle for world-class hockey talent,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor emphasized that the government is building a strong talent pipeline to support players from the school level to regional and national competitions.
He noted that synthetic hockey turfs at Srinagar, Pulwama and Poonch have created new opportunities for aspiring players, including those from border and remote areas. He also informed that modern synthetic hockey turfs are currently under construction at Bandhu Rakh and K.K. Hakku Stadium in Jammu, which will further strengthen training facilities and talent development programs.
