Srinagar, October 7 (Daily Kiran) : Jammu and Kashmir’s Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, inaugurated a series of sports infrastructure projects worth ₹30.35 crores at the Sher-e-Kashmir Multi-Sports Activity Centre in Gindun Rajbagh, Srinagar, on October 7. This initiative aims to significantly enhance swimming and gymnastics facilities in the region.
The newly developed amenities include a state-of-the-art Olympic-sized swimming pool measuring 50 meters by 25 meters, a heated training pool for year-round use, and a modern indoor gymnastics hall equipped with advanced apparatus.
During the inauguration, Abdullah emphasized that these facilities would encourage youth to explore new sports beyond traditional activities, providing them with year-round training opportunities. He noted, “With this facility, we aim to create a new environment for students in sports. For the first time in Kashmir, an Olympic-sized swimming pool has been constructed, complete with a solar-powered heating system, allowing children to train throughout the year.”
The main swimming pool, costing ₹19.96 crores, features ten competitive lanes, diving platforms at various heights, modern filtration and circulation systems, changing rooms, toilets, lockers, and seating for 300 spectators. This facility is designed to promote competitive swimming, diving, and other water sports.
Additionally, the training and children’s swimming pools, built at a cost of ₹5.35 crores, include a heating system, an indoor lap pool, a special pool for children, anti-slip decking, and modern filtration and sanitation facilities.
The gymnastics hall, constructed at a cost of ₹5.04 crores, measures 36 meters by 21 meters and has a height of 10 meters, outfitted with contemporary gymnastics equipment. Abdullah expressed hope that this facility would enhance gymnastics training and coaching in the region. The Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council is already running coaching camps there and is working towards establishing a dedicated gymnastics academy.
Highlighting local interest in gymnastics, Abdullah remarked that while discussions often focus on Jammu, children in Kashmir are equally eager to participate in the sport. He stated, “Typically, when gymnastics is mentioned in Jammu and Kashmir, only Jammu is considered. However, children in Kashmir are interested and want to play, but lack of infrastructure has hindered their opportunities.”
The Chief Minister also witnessed live demonstrations of swimming and gymnastics by athletes and trainees during the inauguration. The new sports facilities aim to increase grassroots participation in sports, expand access to professional training, and provide better opportunities for young athletes to compete at national and international levels.
With these versatile aquatic facilities, regular training can continue even during the winter months.
Attendees at the inauguration included Youth Services and Sports Minister Satish Sharma, the Chief Minister’s advisor Nasir Aslam Wani, local legislators, and officials from the Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council.
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