Will continue organising such tournaments to prevent youth from drug addiction: Commandant

PAMPORE: A two-day cricket tournament organised by 185 Bn Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) under civic action programme at Lethpora area of Pampore Tehsil in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district concluded on Wednesday. The tournament was inaugurated by Commandant CRPF 185 Battalion, Arun Kumar Bharti in presence of other officers of CRPF and motivated the players for healthy competition.

Eight teams from various parts of the district participated. The teams included Lalpora Pampore, PCC Malangpora, Youngsters Eleven Malangpora, Sultan Warriors Koil, KSCC Koil, Friend Eleven Barsoo, Saffron growers Bagh-i-Nishat Lethpora, a CRPF official told Kashmir Reader.

The CRPF said the aim was to provide assistance to local youth who belong to far-flung and remote areas.

The final match was played between Friends Eleven Barsoo and Youngstar Eleven Malangpora on Wednesday in which Friends Eleven Barsoo defeated its opponent Youngstar Eleven Malangpora and clinched the trophy.

The Man of The Match was awarded to Adil Ganie from Friends Eleven Barsoo while Adil Sofi from Friends Eleven Barsoo was declared Man of The Tournament.

Ayaz Ahmad form Friends Eleven Barsoo won best batsman of the tournament and Muzamil from Youngstar Eleven, Malangpora was declared best bowler of the tournament.

All participant players of the tournament were quite happy as the tournament was well organised and managed by the 185 Battalion CRPF. At the closing ceremony, one trophy was awarded to both the winner and runner-up teams. Besides, one commendation certificate, one track suit, one memento, and one cap were awarded to each players of the winner team while each players of the runner-up team received one commendation certificate, one cricket suit, one memento and one cap. During the tournament, snacks and lunch were provided to the participants by the CRPF.

Arun Kumar Bharati, Commandant 185 Bn, Sunil Mishra Second-in-Command, Vinod Kumar Tandon, Second-in-Command, Rakesh Kumar Dy. Commandant, Premvir Singh Dy. Commandant, Rupesh Kumar Asst. Commandant, Awanish Tiwari Asst. Commandant, Vineet Tejiyan Medical Officer, Ashif Rashid Medical Officer and other officers of 185 Bn CRPF along with many local prominent person, representatives witnessed the occasion.

All local people and prominent persons of the area appreciated the work of 185 Bn CRPF.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, Commandant 185 Bn CRPF Arun Kumar Bharati appreciated all participants and congratulated the Winners and the Runner-up teams. He said sports is the only way which keeps individual physically and mentally fit and also teach them to work as a team with team spirit.

“Today, a large numbers of the youth are getting addicted to deadly drugs, which is a big challenge, but through sports and sportsmen spirit, one can overcome with these problems,” Bharati said. “185 BN CRPF is fully dedicated to help the locals as well as youths in any manner they can. They assured that 185 Battalion CRPF shall continue such kind of events to help the poor and youths in future too.”

Bharati said that they have been deployed at Lethpora for internal security and have been discharging the responsibilities from past five years along with local people. He said that they were running a tournament under civic action programme 21-22 for which they were appointed by Kashmir off sector.

“Games are important not only for physical fitness but for mental development as well,” he said, adding that they will continue to organise such tournaments for youth so that they are guided in a proper direction and don’t fall prey to the craze of drug addiction.

BILAL HABIB