‘Keep sports free of politics, don’t suspect every selection’: J&K L-G amid row over picking players

“Achhi pratibha ke bachhe, muje lagta hai ki jin ke pas bastabh mein pratibha hai, kinhi karno se chuk jatey hein (If feel that those with talent somehow get left behind),” he said.

At the same time, he said he was also against viewing all selection processes with suspicion.

“If we want to see India as a powerful player in the sports then we have to free ourselves from a predetermined mindset of having suspicion at every selection,” he said, adding: “We shall have to come out of this situation as well.”

He called for a change in the mindset of the administration towards paraplegic sportspersons. He recalled the time when a medal-winning national swimming and taekwondo champion, who didn’t have his hands, found it difficult to get his driver’s licence.

“He got a medal, but difficulties arise when there are some people in the administration who do not recognize him,” he said. “I believe that we can do better if we create an atmosphere that encourages a child who is doing well or trying to do well in the sports. The youth in Jammu and Kashmir have all the qualities of determination, capacity and capability in them and they do not lack anything.”

Last month, an outcry over the Santosh Trophy selection process for the Jammu and Kashmir team prompted the UT’s Sports Minister Satish Sharma to order an inquiry. Of the UT’s 20-member team for that trophy, 19 were from Kashmir.

Similar allegations of regional bias also hit the Under-14 boys’ cricket team for the 69th National School Games earlier this month, with accusations prompting the UT administration to initiate another inquiry.

On their part, the J&K Sports Council has denied the allegations. Significantly, the J&K football team had an impressive start in the tournament — beating Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh by 3-0 each — but were eliminated after a 0-1 loss to Punjab.

The two-day ‘National Level Sports Conference – SRIJAN’ sports convention, which began Saturday, saw various sports councils and administration, experts, industry leaders and local sportspersons in attendance.