Srinagar [Jammu and Kashmir], Sep 14 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir State sports council is organising the first ever Martial Arts Games Championship in the state from September 13 to 15.

Martial art games like Judo, Taekwondo, Wushu, Pencak Silat, Thangtha, and Boxing are being played in the three-day event.

This is for the first time that such an initiative is being taken by the state government at such a large scale. The tournament is expected to provide a platform for budding martial arts aspirants across Kashmir to showcase their talent and develop their skills.

Reflecting on the tournament, Divisional Sports Officer Nusrat Ara said that the event is aimed at providing players with exposure and experience. She further claimed that more than 1500 children are involved in the event.

"Different events are being conducted so that the participants get to see and experience various categories under Martial Arts. We organised the Martial Arts Championship because more than 1500 children are involved," she told ANI.

The players participating in various events also appreciated the initiative and hoped that it would help them build a future in the field of sports.

Zakariya Yusuf, one of the participants in the event, said that having a government-level competition always helps as the scope gets wider and individuals get encouraged to achieve greater heights in sports.

"Earlier, we used to play at the association level. And this tournament is at the government level. Many new games have been introduced in the event encouraging us to think bigger in terms of scope," Yusuf said.

Another player, Naveed Farooq, asserted that the valley is filled with talented people who are in need of a platform like this to showcase their talent.

"There is a lot of talent in Kashmir who are getting exposure through this event. Such competitions should be held more. Many of the regional players went on to clinch medals at the Asian Games. So, I believe that this field encloses bright future for the youngsters," Farooq said.

The winners of the competitions will be awarded medals and certificates, while others will be given participation certificates. (ANI)

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