Share your story and shine at JK Monitor!🌟 Welcome to JK Monitor, where every story matters and every achievement is celebrated! We invite you to share the remarkable journey of your life and showcase your accomplishments to the world. Join our exclusive interviews that honor exceptional individuals just like you. JAMMU: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Jammu & Kashmir unit has called for a fresh, comprehensive review of athletic infrastructure across the Union Territory, stressing that Jammu and Kashmir young athletes cannot be expected to compete at national and international levels without access to modern synthetic tracks, qualified coaches, scientific training facilities and regular competitions stated Arun Kumar Gupta State Spokesperson, J&K BJP.
Arun Kumar gupta said that the issue of athletics deserves particular attention because athletics is the foundation of competitive sport. Running, jumping and throwing events provide opportunities to thousands of young people, including those who may not have the financial resources, family background or access to expensive sporting academies required for other disciplines.
GUPTA emphasised that a synthetic athletic track should not be treated as a luxury infrastructure project. It is a basic requirement for serious athletics training. Official records show that Jammu & Kashmir has already received support for synthetic athletics infrastructure. The Government of India’s Khelo India project database lists a synthetic athletic track at Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST), Awantipora, and another at Sports Stadium, Tulibal, Sopore.
Earlier plans for the region envisaged eight-lane synthetic athletic tracks at major sporting institutions, while the upgradation of Maulana Azad Stadium had also included a modern synthetic athletic track.
“A track alone cannot produce a champion and a coach alone cannot produce a champion. We need the track, coach, equipment, nutrition, physiotherapy, competitions and a transparent pathway from school-level sport to national-level said Arun Kumar gupta
Gupta stressed that the concern becomes even more serious when athletes are expected to compete against competitors from states such as Haryana, Punjab, Kerala, Odisha and other regions.
A young athlete competing in a 100-metre, 200-metre, 400-metre, middle-distance or long-distance event needs regular access to a proper surface. Athletes participating in hurdles, long jump, triple jump, high jump and throwing events require specialized facilities and technical supervision.
The BJP also underlined the importance of qualified athletics coaches. “What is the purpose of creating modern infrastructure if a talented youngster reaches the track but there is no qualified coach to tell him how to improve his starting technique, running form, stride length, endurance, strength, recovery and competition strategy?” Gupta asked.
Jammu deserves a dedicated modern synthetic athletics track of international-standard specifications, preferably with an eight-lane competition track, field-event facilities, floodlighting, changing rooms, strength and conditioning facilities, physiotherapy support and equipment storage. Such a facility should be available not only to elite athletes but also to schoolchildren, college students and emerging athletes.
The BJP therefore called for a Jammu & Kashmir Athletics Development Mission bringing together the Youth Services and Sports Department, J&K Sports Council, schools, colleges, universities, the Sports Authority of India and athletics associations.
Under such a programme, every district should have a clearly identified athletics centre, while selected centres should be developed as regional high-performance hubs.
The party also suggested that a transparent coaching calendar should be published so athletes know where and when professional coaching camps are available. Talent identification should begin at the school level, followed by district competitions, divisional championships, UT-level competitions and systematic preparation for national events. Rural youngsters, children from economically weaker families and youth from remote and border areas should also be given opportunities.
The party welcomed the sports infrastructure already created by the Government of India and the J&K administration but said that the next step must be consolidation and professionalisation.
The party urged the administration to undertake an immediate audit of all synthetic athletic tracks in Jammu & Kashmir, identifying their condition, accessibility, coaching availability, equipment, maintenance requirements and utilisation.
It also demanded that a special focus be placed on Jammu so that the region receives a modern synthetic athletics facility capable of hosting major competitions and serving as a permanent training centre for local athletes.