Shahid Iqbal Flags Off Jammu and Kashmir U-20 Football Team for National Championship

SRINAGAR, MAY 10: Commissioner Secretary of Youth Services and Sports Shahid Iqbal Choudhary flagged off the Jammu and Kashmir U-20 football team today from the TRC Football Ground in Srinagar. The team is set to compete in the Swami Vivekananda U-20 National Football Championship.

The ceremony included senior officers from the J&K Sports Council, coaches, and local sports enthusiasts who gathered to support the young athletes before their departure.

During his address, Shahid Iqbal congratulated the squad and extended his best wishes for the upcoming tournament. He encouraged the players to maintain discipline and dedication, urging them to represent the Union Territory with a strong sporting spirit on the national stage. His remarks emphasized the importance of high-level competition for the growth of local talent.

The participation of the team is a major milestone following initial administrative hurdles. The J&K team was originally left out of the official fixtures because there was no elected football body in the region. This issue was resolved after Shahid Iqbal intervened and coordinated with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.

He maintained that the players should not be penalized for administrative delays regarding the Jammu and Kashmir Football Association elections.The matter was also a key point of discussion during the recent Chintan Shivir in Srinagar. Shahid Iqbal has called on the AIFF to conduct the association elections within a specific timeframe according to Supreme Court guidelines.

Meanwhile, Secretary of the J&K Sports Council Nuzhat Gul reaffirmed the council’s commitment to developing football. The final squad was chosen through merit-based trials across various districts and completed a residential coaching camp that began on April 9, 2026.