The sports lovers of Shahlal village in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district Thursday demanded that the lone playground in their locality be improved for better events and the hindrances faced by them should be addressed by the concerned department on fast-track basis.
Talking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) the organizers of the forthcoming cricket tournament said that in the last three years around eight mega finals were played in the playground in which star cricketers of the valley took part who complained about the overgrowth of trees there saying that “it causes difficulties to them besides the same acts as major hindrance to them during the game.”
“Many of the well-known clubs and players come to play here but one thing has been constantly among them which is the poor maintenance of the ground which is affecting the sports lovers of the locality and outsiders as well,” the residents said.
A resident said that around 24 villages rely on this single ground while all other grounds in the sub-district are occupied leaving sports lovers in a dismay.
“This ground needs immediate attention of the authorities since the locals want to keep the youth away from drugs and try to involve them more and into the sports-related activities be it cricket or football or any other game of their choice,” he said.
Another local said that sports have become an important part of life now and in recent every individual witnessed tough time and suffered both physically and mentally while the sports are acting as a necessary break and proving instrumental in making people more social and keeping them away from suicides, drugs and other elements that cause harm to them and the society.
The locals urged the lieutenant governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha to intervene in the matter and issue the directions to the concerned department to eliminate the hindrances and problems faced by the beside sending a team of the concerned department for the spot visit so that sports lovers are facilitated—(KNO)