New sports policy in offing for J

Srinagar, May 29 (UNI) The Jammu and Kashmir government would soon introduce a new sports policy to give the much-needed boost to the sporting activities in the state.

A sports conference would be held in the near future to discuss the preliminary draft of the new policy, according to Minister of State for Sports and Youth Affairs Babu Singh.

He said sports had a pivotal role and the potential of far reaching consequences in transforming negative reflections into a positive and constructive one.

Sports personnel from Jammu and Kashmir could bring laurels and honour to the state, Mr Singh added.

He said the time was not far away when the state would be brimming with sports activities.

The Minister affirmed that sportsmen representing Jammu and Kashmir outside could carry an impression of existing peaceful and tranquil conditions prevailing in the state to the outside world.

''Sportsmen play the roles of ambassadors for the state and the country,'' he added.

Mr Singh said sports play an important role in promoting humanism and secularism, thereby offsetting reflections of negative shades of life. ''A sportsman cannot be restricted to narrow identities of region, gender and caste,'' he added.

UNI