Centre approves J&K’s first National Centre of Excellence in Sports; LG thanks PM Modi, Sports Minister

Ziraat Times News Desk

Srinagar, June 25: In a major boost to the sports sector in Jammu & Kashmir, the Government of India has approved the establishment of the Union Territory’s first National Centre of Excellence (NCOE) in Sports, which will be developed in Kashmir.

The proposed Centre is expected to transform Jammu & Kashmir into a leading destination for high-altitude sports training, elite athlete development, sports science and world-class coaching infrastructure.

Welcoming the approval, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Dr Mansukh Mandaviya for sanctioning the project.

Describing the NCOE as a landmark initiative, the Lieutenant Governor said the state-of-the-art facility would bring world-class infrastructure and elite coaching facilities to Jammu & Kashmir and help nurture future Olympic and international champions from the region.

The Centre has been envisioned as a premier national institution for high-altitude sports and athletic training. It will integrate talent identification, coaching, sports science, rehabilitation, residential facilities and competition infrastructure within a single high-performance campus.

According to officials, the proposed campus will include athletics tracks, indoor courts, football and hockey turfs, kabaddi and kho-kho courts, a shooting range, swimming pool, taekwondo hall, sports skilling centres, strength and conditioning facilities, rehabilitation services, hostels, a sports science centre and a sports medicine centre.

The facility is expected to significantly strengthen the sports development ecosystem in Jammu & Kashmir by providing local athletes access to scientific training methods, modern infrastructure and specialized performance-enhancement services.

Officials said the Centre would also leverage Kashmir’s geographical advantage for high-altitude training, which is widely regarded as beneficial for improving endurance, stamina and athletic performance. Once operational, the NCOE is expected to attract athletes from across the country and serve as a venue for training camps, coaching programmes and national-level competitions.

Beyond competitive sports, the project is also expected to create opportunities for youth in coaching, sports science, physiotherapy, fitness training, sports management and other allied fields, contributing to employment generation and skill development.

The proposal for the NCOE was submitted during the April 2026 Chintan Shivir held at SKICC, Srinagar, and was pursued under the guidance of Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, who heads the Apex Committee for Centrally Sponsored Schemes. The initiative was led by Commissioner Secretary, Youth Services and Sports, Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary.

For facilitating the next stages of the project, including inspections, surveys, inter-departmental coordination and preparation of the Detailed Project Report (DPR), Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Anshul Garg has been designated as the Nodal Officer.

Officials described the approval of the first National Centre of Excellence in Sports for Jammu & Kashmir as a defining milestone in the Union Territory’s sporting journey, with the potential to produce athletes capable of competing at national, international and Olympic levels.