PAMPORE: Pampore boy has won a Gold medal in the 23rd Sqay Martial Arts National Championship held in Jammu. The championship organized by the Sqay Federation of India and hosted by the Jammu and Kashmir Sqay Association concluded at Indoor Stadium Bhagwati Nagar, Jammu recently.
Riyaan Rouf Mir, son of Rouf Ahmad Mir, resident of Drangbal, Pampore, won the Gold medal in the junior category. About 600 to 700 players participated in the championship.
Riyaan, a 10th-class student of Salfia Model School Pampore, started Sqay when he was 6 years old. Since then, he has participated in various championships at the state and national level.
Talking to Kashmir Reader, the young Sqay player said he has won six Gold medals at the national level. He defeated Haryana, Delhi, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh in the first game, second game, semi-final, and final, ultimately winning the Gold.
Riyaan said it is a proud moment for him and he is hopeful of representing the country on the international stage.
The J&K players performed exceptionally well thus bagging 1st place in the overall medal tally, Andhra Pradesh remained second while Odisha clinched third place in the championship.

BILAL HABIB