J&K tops country in number of Khelo India Centres, over 5,000 children trained daily
Srinagar, Feb 05: Jammu and Kashmir has recorded a significant surge in sports participation and performance over the past few years, with over 58 lakh youth engaged in sporting activities and athletes winning 2,556 national medals since 2021-22, according to government data released on Thursday.
According to freshly released government data, accessed by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), athletes from the UT have won 2,556 national medals, 843 gold, 737 silver, 976 bronze and 84 international medals since 2021-22, reflecting sustained sporting excellence.
It states that youth across urban, rural, tribal and border areas participated in programs such as My Youth My Pride, Har Din Khel and Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, contributing to a vibrant sports culture.
“The UT has established the highest number of Khelo India Centres in India, training over 5,000 children daily across all 20 districts. Women’s participation has also seen a notable rise,” the data reveals.
“J&K has strengthened its sporting profile by hosting marquee events, including the 3rd Asian Pencak Silat Championship (12+ countries), multiple national championships, the 5th Winter Sports edition and the first-ever Khelo India Water Sports Festival, which saw participation of 500+ athletes from 28 States/UTs.”
The data also revealed, infrastructure expansion has been significant, with 60+ floodlit stadiums, upgraded turfs and indoor halls and the promotion of iconic destinations such as Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Wular and Royal Springs for sports tourism. The UT also hosted 7 events of the 69th National School Games and showcased youth leadership during the National Youth Festival 2025 (VBYLD) with 3,000+ participants. (KNO)
