Beyond a Trophy: LG Manoj Sinha Says Sportspersons Must Learn Courage from Police Martyrs We are not only witnessing a sports tournament here, but we have all gathered to see the virtues like duty, devotion, courage, bravery, patriotism and self-sacrifice coming alive in our presence, said the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu & Kashmir, Shri Manoj Sinha at the commencement of Jammu Kashmir Police Martyr Memorial Khaki Tournament. He first of all paid tribute to the brave martyrs of Jammu and Kashmir Police and saluted their sacred memory. I believe that after 2015, the silence that had prevailed in the Khaki field for a whole decade is being broken. Therefore, I believe that from 9th February to 14th February, in the duration of the tournament, the hidden aspirations of ten-eleven years, the dreams that have been suppressed for so long, are going to come true in these five days. The Lieutenant Governor heartily congratulated the Jammu Kashmir Police who resolved to give a new life to this prestigious Khaki tournament. The Lieutenant Governor said something remarkable: “I want to tell all the players that this is not a competition to win the tournament or the trophy. It is not just a field to showcase your skills in hockey, it symbolises much more than that. This is the declaration of collective resolve of Jammu Kashmir Police. It is a symbol of the fearless message of Jammu Kashmir Police and challenges will never break our spirit and difficulties will never stop our direction. This is proof of this.” LG’s perspective on the language of sports is worth imbibing for every player. In his words: “I always say one thing that sports has its own language and in that language there is no religion, no caste, no region and no identity. In my own language of sports, there is only one country, India. In the context of Khaki, I would like to say specifically that in hockey, every player passing the ball to the other is considered a symbol of faith. Every goal is the victory of collective effort. I view every aggressive defense as a test of human courage. And all the matches to be held in future will teach you all the lessons of struggle, patience and never giving up.” Jammu Kashmir Police Martyr Memorial Khaki Tournament is like a holy pilgrimage for us because it is dedicated to our martyrs, LG further said. It is a matter of real pride to revive the memory of those brave soldiers of Jammu Kashmir Police who sacrificed their present for the future of Mother India, who considered the uniform as a shield of duty and who gave priority to the pride of the country over their lives. The Lieutenan t Governor also appreciated the Civic Action Programme of Jammu and Kashmir Police. I have always said that the Civic Action Programme of Jammu Kashmir Police is not just a government initiative but an idea which brings lasting peace to the society not only through law but also by creating mutual trust among the people, he said. This tournament is a vehicle of future change for the youth. The youth of Jammu and Kashmir Police are not only the future of this Union Territory but they are also the heartbeat of the present. The Lieutenant Governor paid his tribute to the brave martyrs of Jammu Kashmir Police and appealed to the youth that like the brave men of Jammu Kashmir Police, there is a need to make courage, unity, sacrifice and duty the foundation of their lives.
