Sports in Jammu and Kashmir

In 1883, in the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, hunting was still a sport though restrictions on what could be killed and where game could be hunted had started to take force. In A. E. Ward's Sportsman's Guide to Kashmir and Ladak, Ward writes, "in Kashmir there exist two or three hundred men who call themselves shikaris, but there are not two dozen who are worthy of the name. In no other part of India have I come across such an arrant collection of impostors." Game included markhor, ibex, ther, serow, goral, burhel, deer, antelope, yak, wolf, sambhur and others.[6] By the time Ward came out with the fourth edition of his book in 1896 he notes that there is "but little sport to be got in the whole of the Kashmir dominions".[6] By 1942 the Jammu and Kashmir Game Preservation Action came into force which outlined the conditions under which game could be killed.[7]

Against the background of the Kashmir conflict and tension in the state, government initiatives in the sports sector are promoted specifically trying to draw the youth away from the conflict.[8][9][10][11][12] The Indian Army also conducts sporting activities for the youth in the region through various welfare initiatives such as Operation Sadbhavana.[13] Lack of infrastructure,[14] politicization, lack of support[15] are other issues hampering growth of the sports in the region.

Abid Hussain, a sports journalist in Kashmir and founder of the monthly sports magazine Kashmir Sports Watch, in a 2020 interview with Mumbai Mirror said that sports tournaments in Kashmir are organised by both the army and police, as well as mainstream political parties, even the Hurriyat, and once a player takes part in one of these tournaments, the players along with their families are labelled "pro-India" or "pro-Pakistan" accordingly. Even if a sportsperson plays for India they face stigmatization from separatists.[16]

On 24 September 2020, the one-year anniversary of the Fit India Movement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi digitally interacted with sportspersons across the country, including Afshan Asiq. Afshan is the captain of Kashmir Valley's first Jammu and Kashmir women's state football team. In 2017, she had been photographed stone pelting, which had appeared in headlines across the country.[17][18]

Prime Minister Modi interacting with the various fitness enthusiasts during the Fit India Dialogue event, via video conferencing in September 2020. Visible is Afshan Asiq.

Cricket is the second most popular sport in Jammu and Kashmir after football. Recently Ifran Pathan was made the mentor and coach of the Jammu and Kashmir cricket team.[21] The team participates in the events such as the Ranjhi Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy. Popular players to have come from the region include Parvez Rasool, Abdul Samad, Mithun Manhas, Rasikh Salam and Manzoor Dar[22] who have played T20 IPL matches for team such as Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kings XI Punjab. Other cricketers from Jammu and Kashmir[23] include Jasia Akhtar who was the first women from Jammu and Kashmir to be selected for the India women's national cricket team[24] and Amir Hussain Lone who is the captain of Jammu and Kashmir's para cricket team.[25]

Since 2019, the police also have their own T20 cricket tournament.[26]

As of 2020, Abdul Samad became the cricketer from Jammu and Kashmir with the most number of IPL matches. Parvez Rasool comes in second with 11 matches in the IPL.[27]

There is criticism related to excessive politicization and lack of professionalism and support in development of the sport in the region.[28][15]

Kashmiri youth playing cricket at Wular Lake, Bandipora district, Jammu and Kashmir.

Football, is also popular sport in Jammu and Kashmir, first came to Jammu and Kashmir in 1891-92 by Tyndale Biscoe.[29][30] The first time a football team from the region participated in the Santosh Trophy was in 1964.[29] There are around 500 football clubs in the region.[31]

Teams from Jammu and Kashmir which play in the I-League are Real Kashmir F.C. (division one) and Lonestar Kashmir F.C. (division two).[32][33] Mehrajuddin Wadoo from Srinagar has represented the India national football team and also plays in the Indian Super League.[34]

Jammu and Kashmir has produced nineteen international players[35] (from the school level to the senior team) such as Abdul Majeed Kakroo. Players from the region have been part of top football teams in India such as Mohun Bagan A.C. and East Bengal F.C. (such as Ishfaq Ahmed).[36] Basit Ahmed and Mohammed Renbar were chosen to play football with Sociedad Deportiva Lenense Proinastur (SD Lenense), a third division Spanish team, part of a public outreach program of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and J&K Football Association.[37][38] Other initiatives such as a football team for every village in the Kashmir Valley has also been initiated by the government in 2017.[30]

Night football, with "high-voltage floodlights" set up by the locals themselves, is well contested and attended despite various difficulties.[39]

Basketball is a sport which does not attract much attention in India but the condition is even worse in Jammu and Kashmir where political turmoil often undermines the potential of the players. Basketball was on the verge of a decline in 2015, but with the aid of a few administrators, the sport got a new lifeline in Jammu and Kashmir. Having created a strong base the state is trying to capitalise on the foundations to popularise basketball in Jammu and Kashmir.[40]

Snow rugby was introduced in Srinagar in 2004 and by 2018 around 3000 girls in the region participate in the sport.[41][42]

Marathons that have been conducted in the region include the Ladakh Marathon, the Great Tibetan Marathon and the Kashmir International Half Marathon. The Ladakh Marathon is recognised by Association of International Marathons and Distance Races and is one of the highest marathon in the world.[43][44]

Jammu and Kashmir, with its hilly terrain and swift flowing rivers, offers opportunities for water skiing, paragliding and mountaineering.[45][46][47]

Tsewang Paljor and Tsewang Samanla[48] from Leh was part India's first team to reach the summit of Mount Everest (from the North Col side). Sonam Wangyal, also from Leh, climbed Mount Everest when he was 23, making him the youngest person to do so at the time.[49]

Jammu and Kashmir has opportunities for heliskiing, ice skating, ice hockey, snow autocross[50] and snowboarding.[47][46] National level winter sporting events that have taken place in Gulmarg include the alpine ski championship and the snowboarding championship.[51]

Inauguration of the first Khelo India Winter Games in the presence of the sports minister

The National Winter Games were held in Gulmarg in 1996, 2004, 2008.[1] The second leg of the first Khelo India Winter Games were held between 7 and 11 March 2020 in Gulmarg.[2][3] Jammu and Kashmir won the most gold medals (26 gold, 29 silver, 21 bronze) while the Indian Army team came second with 8 gold medals.[4] Sports included alpine skiing, nordic skiing, snow baseball, ice hockey and snowshoeing.[4] 900 athletes from 20 states took part.[3] The second winter games were successfully held in Gulmarg between 26 February–2 March 2020.[52]

Snowshoe run was held in Srinagar as a part of winter sports to uplift the winter sports in kashmir. This sport is usually played in Europe and was introduced in Kashmir for the first time.[53]

The TRC ground is Jammu and Kashmir's first football stadium. It has imported synthetic football turf. The synthetic turf for the stadium has been imported from Italy. The stadium has a capacity for 15000 spectators. The field is of international standard size.[57][58][59]

Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium is a cricket stadium located in Srinagar. It is home to the JKCA and Jammu and Kashmir cricket team which represents the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir in the Ranji Trophy and other domestic tournaments in the country. National Cricket Academy is currently constructing an indoor complex at the stadium.

A new sports facility is under construction in south Kashmir’s Bijbhera. It is expected to be complete by 2021. Facilities include an "indoor stadium, a cricket ground of international standards, a football ground, hockey stadium, skating rink, cycle track, modular synthetic basketball court, volleyball and badminton courts."[60] On 12 September 2020, the e-foundation stone of the 'Shri Arun Jaitley Memorial Sports Complex' was laid.[61][62] On 19 September 2020, Suresh Raina, after meeting with the Lieutenant Governor, decided to set up cricket training academies in both Kashmir division and Jammu division.[63]

The government of Jammu and Kashmir has introduced various awards to inspire not only the sports people, but also coaches and sports associations. Following are some of these awards:

• Sher-I-Kashmir Award and Medal[65]
• Maharaja Ranjit Singh Award and Medal
• Parshuram Awards and Medals
• Brig Rajinder Singh Award and Medal for Men
• Madri-I-Meharban Award and Medal
• Chief Minister's Gold Rolling Trophy

There are over 40 official registered sports associations in the region such the J&K Cricket Association and the J&K Football Association. Other associations under the sports council include the J&K Yoga Association, J&K Cycling Association and the J&K Billiard and Snooker Association. Associations have also been set up for the deaf as well for veterans.[66][67]