Baramulla, July 30: The month-long Varmul Gindo 3.0, the biggest sports festival in Baramulla district, concluded on a high note after bringing together thousands of young athletes in a vibrant celebration of sports, talent and unity.
Organised by the Indian Army's Dagger Division in collaboration with the Jammu & Kashmir Sports Council, Department of Youth Services & Sports, and the Baramulla Sports Association, the festival was held under the theme "Messenger of Peace."
The closing ceremony was attended by the General Officer Commanding (GOC), Dagger Division as the Chief Guest, while MLA Baramulla Javid Hassan Beigh graced the occasion as the Guest of Honour.
Over the course of the festival, nearly 3,600 boys and girls from different tehsils of Baramulla competed in more than 20 sporting disciplines held across 15 indoor and outdoor venues. The competitions included football, hockey, volleyball, rugby, kabaddi, basketball, handball, kho-kho, tennis-ball cricket, chess, table tennis, snooker, karate and wushu, among others.
The tournament witnessed intense competition, enthusiastic participation and impressive displays of discipline and sportsmanship, drawing large crowds to several venues throughout the district.
A major outcome of the festival was the identification of talented athletes who will now be considered for UT-level coaching camps, talent identification programmes and higher-level competitions in disciplines such as football, athletics, volleyball, hockey, karate, wushu and rugby.
Addressing the gathering, the GOC, Dagger Division, congratulated the participants and highlighted the importance of sports in promoting peace, discipline, teamwork and national integration. He said such initiatives provide young people with constructive opportunities to channel their energy and develop their potential.
The organisers thanked all participating teams, sports bodies, educational institutions, civil administration, volunteers and spectators for their support in making the event a grand success.
With the successful conclusion of Varmul Gindo 3.0, Baramulla has further strengthened its reputation as an emerging sporting hub, while the festival reinforced the values of youth empowerment, unity and peace through the transformative power of sports.