Jammu Kashmir Chief Minister Honours 580 Sportspersons With Cash Awards

SRINAGAR, Aug 10 — Chief Minister Omar Abdullah presented cash awards totaling 2.71 crore rupees to 580 outstanding sportspersons and international athletes from Jammu and Kashmir during a ceremony at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre.

Recognizing achievements for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons, the Chief Minister personally handed over awards to 22 athletes, while funds for the remaining beneficiaries were transferred directly via Direct Benefit Transfer. Special recognition was also extended to Mixed Martial Arts fighter Owais Yaqoob for his recent victory at BRAVE CF 107 in Bulgaria.

Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister emphasized the government’s commitment to easing financial burdens on athletes and their families regarding training, equipment, and travel expenses. He highlighted the need to upgrade grassroots sports infrastructure, including indoor training facilities and synthetic tracks, while taking advantage of the region’s high altitude to set up specialized training centers across various disciplines.

Linking athletic engagement to youth welfare, Omar Abdullah also launched a mobile anti-drugs and anti-doping campaign torch relay across Srinagar to promote clean competition and keep young people away from substance abuse.