Onlykashmir.in News Desk
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday inaugurated a fresh set of sports facilities at the Sher-i-Kashmir Multi-Sports Activity Centre at Gindun, Rajbagh, Srinagar, a project that adds significant aquatic and gymnastic capacity to the Valley’s sporting infrastructure. Developed at a cost of more than Rs 30 crore, the new complex is aimed at taking sport closer to ordinary families and young talent in the capital.
The centrepiece of the project is an Olympic-sized 10-lane swimming pool, built to standards that allow serious competitive training. Alongside it, the centre now has an all-weather training pool designed for beginners and toddlers, which will let children learn to swim safely through the year, including in the cold months when open water is out of reach in Kashmir. A modern gymnastics hall completes the package and gives the region a dedicated space for a discipline that has rarely had proper facilities locally.
Officials said the infrastructure is intended to promote sports at the grassroots level, provide access to professional coaching and support young athletes as they prepare for national and international competitions. For a region where harsh winters limit outdoor training, an indoor, all-weather arrangement of this scale is seen as a meaningful step forward.
Sports Minister Satish Sharma and Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani were present at the inauguration.
The Gindun centre has been associated with the government’s wider effort to build sporting capacity across Jammu and Kashmir, where young athletes have in recent years made their mark in disciplines ranging from winter sports to martial arts and cricket. Experts note that talent alone is rarely enough; consistent access to well maintained venues and trained coaches is what turns promising youngsters into competitive athletes. The addition of a full-size pool and a gymnastics hall addresses precisely this gap.
The facilities also carry a public health dimension. Swimming and gymnastics are widely regarded as excellent foundations for physical fitness, coordination and discipline, and a beginners’ pool gives families an affordable and supervised environment in which children can build confidence early. Planners say that centres of this kind can also host district and inter-district competitions, helping to create a pipeline from school level to elite training.
The success of the project will ultimately depend on how well it is managed once the ribbon is cut. Regular coaching, transparent access for students and clubs, and sound maintenance will determine whether the centre becomes a true hub for the Valley’s athletes. If these elements fall into place, Gindun could emerge as one of the most important sporting addresses in Kashmir, and a model for similar centres in other districts.
