Kolkata: After passionate appeals made by a Kashmiri girl, Tajamul Islam (8) who had won a gold medal in the 2016 World kickboxing championship in Italy in the sub-junior category, requesting the J&K Government to equip them with state-of-the-art training equipment and better infrastructure fell on deaf ears, Union Sports Minister Vijay Goel intervened and asked the J&K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti to provide all possible infrastructural support to the state kickboxers and others.
Even as more and more youngsters in Kashmir are making it big in sports, the dismal sporting infrastructure in the state has been highlighted by its most prominent sports icon, Tajamul. Less than a year after she won the gold, she has posted a video on social media, which shows the poor condition of her sports academy. “I am playing at an international level and I need equipment the most. Look at this room, you can see the condition of our training shed, you will feel ashamed to see its condition, the rain water trickles down in the shed and makes the ground uneven. One can’t practise in winters,” Tajamul, who won gold in the sub-junior category of the World Kickboxing Championship in Italy last year, says in her video message posted on Twitter.
Tajamul, in the video, requested, the government to improve the state of Ali Sports Academy, where she trains. Tajamul was felicitated by Mufti and was asked to list her requirements so that she could be provided with all possible assistance. After the video went viral, Goel urged Mufti to provide adequate infrastructure to the state kickboxers after a medal-winning young Kashmiri athlete uploaded a video in social media requesting the government to improve facilities.
In the letter addressed to the J&K CM, Goel said, “The Government of India has funded establishment of Multi-Purpose Halls in all districts in J&K under the special package. I shall be grateful if you could kindly look into the matter personally and take necessary steps towards providing adequate sporting infrastructure for athletes in the field of Kickboxing in the state of J&K.”
“In case Miss Tajamul Islam needs some specific assistance as individual sports person, the Government of India will be happy to consider the request,” the letter said.
(With inputs from PTI)