Onlykashmir.in News Desk
National Conference Chief Spokesperson and Zadibal MLA Tanvir Sadiq on Saturday attended the IX National Deaf Men’s T20 Cricket Championship at Bakshi Stadium in Srinagar as Chief Guest and felicitated the participating teams and players. gdeltcloud
The championship has brought together deaf cricketers from Jammu and Kashmir and several other parts of the country, turning the Srinagar venue into a meeting point for athletes who compete with skill and determination despite communication barriers. For many of the players, a national tournament is a rare chance to showcase talent before a larger audience.
Praising the cricketers’ determination, hard work and sporting spirit, Sadiq said their achievements serve as an inspiration for the younger generation. He urged young people to stay away from substance abuse and unhealthy lifestyles and to make sports an integral part of their lives. The appeal carries weight in the Valley, where drug abuse among youth has become a major public concern and sport is widely seen as a constructive alternative.
Sadiq also stressed the need to provide young people with sports grounds and basic facilities, saying that talent can flourish only where opportunity exists. He added that the Omar Abdullah-led government would continue to support sports and encourage athletes, a commitment he linked to building a healthier and more confident generation.
He congratulated the Association of Deaf and Dumb and the All J&K Sports Association of the Deaf for organising the championship. Such organisations often work with limited resources to give athletes with hearing impairment a structured platform, and a ninth national edition of the tournament points to the sustained effort that goes into keeping it alive.
The presence of a senior political figure at the event also highlights the growing attention to sport for persons with disabilities. Para and deaf sport have long needed better infrastructure, coaching and recognition, and public acknowledgement from elected representatives can help bring sponsors, officials and audiences closer to the cause. Hosting a national championship in Srinagar further reinforces the city’s place on the country’s sporting map.
For the cricketers on the field, the felicitation was a moment of recognition. For the wider community, it was a reminder that inclusion in sport is not charity but a matter of equal opportunity, and that the playing fields of the Valley should be open to every young person with a dream.
