LG Manoj Sinha Inaugurates Shopian Sports Hall, Says Volleyball League Fuels Drug-Free J&K A multi-purpose Sports Indoor Hall in Shopian was inaugurated by the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu & Kashmir, Shri Manoj Sinha. The Lieutenant Governor said that he felt extremely happy at the inauguration of South Kashmir Volleyball League 2026. I believe that this is not just a tournament but a message that our youth will no longer stand on the field and remain spectators but will create their own future. Every serve, every spike and every dive on the court in this four-day tournament is a testimony to the energy of our youth as they overcome the challenges on their path to progress and move ahead as an integral part of the country’s mainstream, LG said. I remember this league starting a few years ago. Then the objective behind this was to provide a unique platform to the youth. Today, I can confidently say that the Sports Department and the Sports Council have succeeded in nurturing talent. And this league will definitely help in developing a new sports culture. And I think this is also going to be a strong pillar of the campaign for drug-free Jammu and Kashmir. Around 40,000 youth across Jammu and Kashmir have been connected with volleyball competitions and sports activities so far. I believe that these are not just numbers but the creation of a whole new generation. And the results are before us. In Shopian alone, sports infrastructure worth Rs 22 crore has been developed in the last five-six years. The cricket stadium in Wachi, the synthetic basketball and volleyball courts in Rangkadal, and the football turf in J&K are proof of our historic and unprecedented investment in the empowerment of young people. I want to tell all the youth of South Kashmir and Shopian that the Honorable Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi ji is fully committed to creating a strong ground for your dreams. I am happy that today 20 Khelo India Centres are actively functioning across South Kashmir where around 600 trainees are regularly receiving training and equipment. And the players coming out of these centres have also represented Jammu and Kashmir in national and international competitions. I congratulate and felicitate all such young people. I would like that as a role model for the public, you should show the path to the new generation and help in showing the right path to those youth who are trapped in the quagmire of drugs. I know that drug addiction will not end in 100 days, but a campaign has been launched which is receiving unprecedented support from the public. Jammu and Kashmir Police is also taking action against drug smugglers very seriously, said the Lieutenant Governor Shri Manoj Sinha in Shopian.
