Satish Sharma Proposes Revolutionary Sports Roadmap to Transform Jammu & Kashmir into National Excellence Hub
NEW DELHI | January 10, 2026Satish Sharma, Minister for Youth Services and Sports, J&K, met with Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, to present a comprehensive memorandum aimed at revolutionizing the sporting landscape of Jammu and Kashmir.
The ambitious roadmap seeks to position the Union Territory as a premier destination for high-performance training and sports tourism. A primary highlight of the proposal is the demand for international-standard cricket stadiums in both Srinagar and Jammu, which Sharma noted is essential for hosting national and global fixtures that have long been restricted due to a lack of infrastructure.
Additionally, the Minister urged the revival of the Arun Jaitley International Cricket Stadium Project at Hiranagar to ensure the Jammu region receives its landmark sporting facility.Focusing on rural and frontier regions, Sharma proposed a Border Sports Development Circuit covering areas from Kathua to Gurez.
To back this vision with economic opportunities, he requested a financial outlay of ₹600 crore over five years to establish 10 Border Sports & Employment Hubs. These hubs are designed to provide multi-sport facilities and skill training, alongside a ₹300 crore apprenticeship program and wage support for coaches.
The proposal also includes special grants for grassroots sports, such as Dangal Akharas and football fields, ensuring that every border panchayat is equipped to nurture local talent.The Minister further emphasized J&K’s natural advantages by advocating for the establishment of a National Water Sports Centre of Excellence at Basohli’s Ranjit Sagar Dam and expediting the National Winter Sports Centre of Excellence at Gulmarg.
To ensure these world-class facilities are utilized effectively, the memorandum suggests a Special Coaches Engagement Scheme to hire international-level experts on a contract basis. By integrating modern Youth Hostels under the Khelo India framework and engaging registered NYCs as skilled human resources, Sharma envisions sports becoming a powerful engine for employment, tourism, and regional development across the Union Territory.