Jammu Kashmir CM promises her support to Women's sports

The football stadium turned into the cricket stadium as the first ever T20 tournament for women commenced in Jammu Kashmir. The competition comprises of 13 teams as nineteen matches will be played on a 55-yard boundary ground to find out the champion team. Bakshi Stadium in Srinagar is hosting the tournament as some of the players are playing as part of a team for the first time. This event marks as a historic one for women in the state and the Chief Minister who was present during the eighth match also promised to make it an annual event.

The 13 teams participating in the tournament comprise nine from Kashmir, three from Jammu, and the Ladakh Warriors. There are players who have played national tournaments and attended national camps but the lack of practice and training camps is the biggest complaint. They are grateful, however, for opportunities such as the current tournament.

We are playing together for the first time

The players are excited to take part in the first ever competition being held in Jammu Kashmir and are looking forward to play with their teammates for the first time. Bushra Ashraf, who leads Srinagar Power Hitters, said they use the University of Kashmir’s lawns to practice since the cricket grounds of Srinagar are mostly used by boys.

The team from Baramulla says the only way for them to practise is to attend college because none of them has the necessary gear or kits, they depend on the facilities available at the college. Ladakh Warriors, on the other hand, have rented cricket kits from a store in Leh at Rs 5,000 each and are possibly the most excited to be part of a tournament.

“I practised with my brothers and cousins. They played and I fielded,” said Meenu Salathia, captain of Jammu Warriors. “We have never played together as a team and we are only learning as we play every match. Everyone is an all-rounder because there is neither the time nor the space to identify each person’s skill and develop it further,” team captain Stanzin Lazes told The Indian Express. We are all here because of our parents. Not a single player’s family objected to her leaving home and coming to play this tournament,” batter Saima of Baramulla team said.

The Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti promised her support to women’s sports and institutionalisation of the tournament. “The government has given focused attention to sports and youth development activities in the state and so far 200 coaches have been engaged to train youth in various sports disciplines,” she said.