The league, as per a statement, is being conducted with the support of HexaMed Diagnostics as the Title Partner, CT University as the Powered By Partner, Kanwal Spices and Oxford Hospital as the Associate Partners, JK Sports Time as the Live Streaming Partner, and Pepsi as the Beverage Partner.

In the first semi-final, Royal Goodwill Cricket Club displayed exceptional resilience to edge past Sultan Warriors Baramulla by 11 runs in a nail-biting encounter. After winning the toss and opting to bat first, Royal Goodwill struggled against disciplined bowling and were bowled out for 104 runs in 18.2 overs.

Imtiyaz Lefty stood tall under pressure, scoring a crucial 45 runs off 38 balls, including four boundaries and three sixes, to give his side a fighting total.

Defending the modest target, Royal Goodwill produced a remarkable bowling performance. Gowher Leggy emerged as the game-changer, returning impressive figures of 3 wickets for 16 runs in 4 overs, earning him the Player of the Match award. He was ably supported by Rithik Singh (2/18), Rouf Bashir (2/9) and Jehangir Lone (2/10), who maintained relentless pressure on the batting side.

In reply, Sultan Warriors Baramulla were bundled out for 93 runs in 18.5 overs. Asim Bashir (20) and Arjun Singh (16) offered brief resistance, but the disciplined bowling attack ensured Royal Goodwill sealed a thrilling victory to secure their spot in the final.

The second semi-final witnessed a dominant all-round display by Valley Stars Ganderbal, who outclassed Tiles and Bath Cricket Club. Batting first, Valley Stars posted 129/9 in 20 overs, with skipper Nadeem Dar leading from the front with a composed 46 off 44 balls*, while Danish Muzaffar contributed 34 runs.

In response, Tiles and Bath CC collapsed under sustained bowling pressure and were bowled out for just 67 runs in 12.1 overs. Samar spearheaded the bowling attack with 4 wickets for 17 runs, while Bhagmender Lather delivered an impactful spell, claiming 3 wickets for 18 runs. For his decisive performance, Bhagmender Lather was adjudged the Man of the Match.

Also present on the occasion were Vikrant Sharma, Cluster Head North, 92.7 BIG FM, RJ Juhie, Morning Show Host, along with Ahmer Ikhlaq and Sahil Choudhary, who expressed gratitude to the officials, media, sponsors and spectators for their continued support.

With both finalists decided, the BIG JKPL 2025–26 now heads towards an exciting climax, promising a thrilling finale for cricket lovers across the region.

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A contingent of 30 athletes, including 22 girls and 8 boys, brought laurels to the region by winning an impressive 2 Gold, 10 Silver and 18 Bronze medals. Tanvir Sadiq, as per a statement issued, lauded the athletes, coaches and support staff for their dedication and perseverance, stating that their success is a matter of immense pride for the people of Jammu & Kashmir.

He said that such achievements clearly highlight the immense sporting potential of the youth of the region and are a testament to months of hard work and rigorous training. “These young athletes have not only earned national recognition but have also inspired a new generation to take up sports with passion and commitment,” he added.

Tanvir Sadiq further stated that the Omar Abdullah–led government remains firmly committed to the promotion of sports and youth development across Jammu & Kashmir. He emphasized that sustained efforts are being made to strengthen sports infrastructure, expand access to training facilities, and ensure institutional support for athletes to excel at national and international platforms.

Extending heartfelt congratulations to all medal winners and their mentors, Tanvir Sadiq wished the team continued success and expressed confidence that athletes from Jammu & Kashmir will continue to make the Union Territory proud on the national stage.

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Sources within the setup confirmed that Kundal has been brought in ahead of J&K’s remaining league fixtures, with the think-tank keen to inject stability and intent into the middle order. However, with the tournament already slipping away, questions remain whether the move has come too late to influence outcomes meaningfully.

The reshuffle follows Rydham Sharma’s failure to seize his opportunity after being handed a role to fill the void left by Kanhaiya Wadhawan. Despite being given chances, Rydham could not make a significant impact and, according to insiders, is set to make way for Kundal in the playing XI.

Selection changes are expected to go deeper. Kawalpreet Singh, who was brought in recently, is unlikely to feature in the next match, while Abdul Samad, dropped earlier in the tournament, is set for a return for the remaining fixtures. Yudhvir Singh is also likely to be included in the playing XI as J&K search for balance and spark.

The churn underlines the broader uncertainty gripping the side. While batting inconsistencies have hurt chases, bowling remains J&K’s most pressing concern, with the attack failing to control opposition line-ups or deliver match-winning spells. Former cricketers tracking the tournament have pointed to a lack of penetration and consistency, particularly from senior bowlers.

Among those under scrutiny is Auqib Nabi, who, despite leading the attack, has yet to deliver a defining performance in the competition. Former players and observers note that Nabi has struggled to make decisive inroads or tilt matches in J&K’s favour, adding to the team’s growing list of concerns.

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Atiqa, as per statement issued on Monday is the first Indian to be supported by the Formula 1 Academy, could have spent another season dominating championships in the mini category (age 8-12) but she has been thrown in at deep end with the move up to the junior S125 category (age 12-14) in the new year.

The karts are 30kgs heavier (115kg in mini to 145kg in junior) and have three times the horsepower (10 bhp with a top speed of 105 kmph to 29 bhp with a top speed of 126 kmph).

In a clear sign of her rare talent, Atiqa, also backed by Akcel GP Academy, thrived in the unfamiliar territory rather than getting overawed by the occasion.

By finishing fifth out of 35 drivers in a male-dominated grid, Atiqa also became the first female to register a top-five finish in the history of the IAME UAE Championship on debut.

With only a few days of testing to get used to the junior kart, Atiqa once again proved that her fitness and dedication are second to none in a gruelling 21-lap race at the historic Formula 1 Circuit here.

She qualified 18th due to an issue with her kart, but that didn’t deter her in the races.

In the heat race, she climbed up six places, and in the pre-final, she went up eight places to finish fourth, displaying mature racecraft and overtaking drivers with much more experience (in the category as well as age).

Starting the final fourth and on the trickier outside lane, Atiqa held her ground and got in the mix of the leading group. She put in some stunning lap times to keep up with the leading pack.

The pace in front was so fast that they came up to lap the back markers, but one of them blocked Atiqa, and she lost time due to that. If that was not the case. She could have finished two places higher and on the podium. In the end, she lost out on the podium by only four tenths of a second.

“That was a good debut weekend in Junior, it went better than I expected. The karts are so fast compared to the Mini, and I absolutely love it. My race could have been much better if the backmarkers had not come in the way.

“But nonetheless Im happy with my speed this weekend. I hope to keep learning and improving myself in this new category,” said Atiqa, who aims to reach Formula 1 one day.

Atiqa’s father, Asif Mir, said the decision to fast-track his daughter to the junior category was vindicated with the performance over the weekend.

“We decided to move Atiqa up to Juniors in a late call in December. I felt she could learn more in the higher category and improve her skill even though she is barely eligible, being so young and going up against drivers who are 2-3 years older than her,” said Asif, who is also India’s first national karting champion.

“She had a stellar debut and deserved a podium for her efforts but just fell short. It is not easy going from a Mini to a Junior kart with the higher G-forces and speed. She even surprised me with her performance,” he added.

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The ceremony was also graced by Praful Patel, Administrator, UT of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.

During the event, a special message from Prime Minister Narendra Modi was read out, extending his heartiest felicitations to the participating athletes and organisers.

Addressing the gathering, the Lieutenant Governor, as per an official statement, stated that under the leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is witnessing a new revolution in sports.

“We are committed to empower youth through the power of sports. From Kashmir to Kanyakumari, India’s youth are redefining sports excellence and scripting a new history from playgrounds to podiums. The young sportspersons are not confined to traditional sports, but they are conquering new grounds with sweat, dreams and victory,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

The Lieutenant Governor highlighted that the spectacular Khelo India Beach Games event reflects the Government of India’s commitment to nurture a strong sporting culture and India’s Youth Surge in Coastal Sports.

The Lieutenant Governor said that the Jammu & Kashmir is proud to be an active participant in this national sporting movement.

These games will build confidence and leadership that will spur rise of Gen Z athletes in global tournaments, he further said

The Lieutenant Governor called upon the athletes to act as brand ambassadors for ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ and share the warm hospitality and priceless culture of Diu with their respective regions.

“Khelo India Beach Games are not just about winning medals; they are a platform to project India’s ‘soft power’ and showcase our coastal tourism potential to the world,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

He said the Beach Games also remind us of our shared responsibility towards environmental sustainability and the preservation of our coastal ecosystems.

“Sports unite people beyond caste, religion, and region. Let us make these games a success through the power of unity and work towards making India a world-class sporting power,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

The Lieutenant Governor congratulated Praful Patel, Administrator, UT of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, and the people of the Union Territory for successfully hosting the India’s first-ever multi-sport Beach Games in 2024 and the inaugural edition of the Khelo India Beach Games in 2025. He also extended his best wishes to all the athletes.

The 2026 edition follows the historic success of the inaugural games. Over the next five days, more than 1,300 athletes from 31 states and UTs will be participating in eight disciplines (6 competitive and 2 demonstration) including Beach Soccer, Beach Volleyball, Beach Sepak Takraw, Beach Kabaddi, Beach Pencak Silat, & Open water Swimming as Competitive and Beach Mallakhamb & Beach Tug of war as Demonstration.

Eminent sports personalities, senior officials, prominent citizens from different walks of life, sports enthusiasts and youth in large numbers attended the opening ceremony.

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As per a statement issued, as many as 21 students from the Centre participated in the championship out of which 17 athletes won medals, showcasing exceptional skill, discipline and dedication.

“Their success stands as a testament to the role of structured sports training and youth empowerment initiatives in nurturing talent at the grassroots level,” the statement read.

The championship not only promoted competitive excellence but also reinforced sports as a powerful medium for youth development, discipline and unity across J&K, the statement added.

The championship was organised by the Amateur Karate-Do Association of Jammu & Kashmir (AKAJK).

The championship witnessed participation of over 600 athletes from various districts across the Union Territory, competing in Sub-Junior, Cadet, Junior, Under-21 and Senior categories.

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The programme, as per DYSS statement was organised by the Department of Youth Services & Sports, Srinagar, and witnessed enthusiastic participation from YSS officials representing all eight sports zones of District Srinagar.

The refresher course was aimed at updating officials with the latest trends, rules, and modern coaching techniques in the respective disciplines, thereby enhancing their professional competence and effectiveness at the grassroots level.

The closing ceremony was graced by the Nodal Officer, Mohammad Shafi Wani, along with Mir Fayaz Ahmad, Incharge Activities, DYSSO Srinagar, who appreciated the commitment and active involvement of the participants.

They highlighted the importance of continuous professional development in promoting sports culture and improving the quality of sports administration and coaching within the district.

To acknowledge their zeal, dedication, and enthusiasm towards sports, participating officials were awarded merit certificates during the ceremony.

The event concluded on a positive note, reinforcing the department’s commitment to capacity building and the overall development of sports in the region.

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Young Khelo India Wushu athletes, as per a J&K Sports Council statement shared on their social media handle—Facebook, from District Jammu, Kupwara and Shopian delivered outstanding performances from December 24 to 31, 2025.

From District Kupwara’s Khelo India Wushu Centre, Handwara, Mehreen once again proved her dominance on the national stage by clinching a Gold Medal, reaffirming her status as one of the country’s most promising Wushu athletes. Adding to the celebrations, the centre’s young prodigy Hadiya Javid impressed everyone by securing a Bronze Medal in her very first National Championship, reflecting exceptional courage, discipline and talent.

Simultaneously, players from the Khelo India Wushu Centre, Shopian also made their mark at the prestigious championship. Sana Sheeraz won a Silver Medal, while Ahsan-ul-Haq, Arham Parray and Muhammad Burhan secured Bronze Medals, underlining the growing strength and depth of Wushu talent emerging from the region.

Adding further to J&K’s impressive medal tally, players from the Khelo India Wushu Centre, Bhagwati Nagar, Jammu delivered a stellar performance at the championship. Kapish Bharat Rakwal, Kartavya Verma, Dhruvika Gupta and Pawana Saini clinched Gold Medals, while Anvi added a Silver Medal, showcasing the high standard of training and competitive excellence being fostered at the centre.

These achievements strongly highlight the transformative role of Khelo India, the Prime Minister’s flagship initiative, in Jammu & Kashmir by providing structured training, modern facilities and equal opportunities to young athletes from both rural and urban areas.

Congratulating the medal winners, Minister for Youth Services and Sports, J&K, Satish Sharma said that the remarkable performances of these young athletes reflect the positive sporting ecosystem being nurtured in Jammu & Kashmir. He stated that sports play a vital role in promoting health, discipline and peace, and such successes inspire thousands of youngsters to adopt sports as a way of life and strive for excellence.

Secretary, J&K Sports Council, Nuzhat Gul also congratulated the athletes for their commendable achievements, stating that the consistent success of players from Khelo India Centres demonstrates the effectiveness of grassroots-level training and athlete-focused development. She reiterated that the Sports Council remains committed to strengthening infrastructure, coaching and competitive exposure so that talented youth from every district of Jammu & Kashmir can compete and excel at the highest level.

The medal-winning performances across Kupwara, Shopian and Jammu stand as a proud moment for Jammu & Kashmir, reinforcing the region’s growing reputation as a rising powerhouse of Wushu talent in the country.

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As per a statement issued, the Beach Games, organised by the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, will be held between January 5-10 under the technical supervision of the Sports Authority of India and national sports federations.

More than 1,100 athletes will compete in eight different sports — volleyball, soccer, sepak takraw, kabaddi, pencak silat, Open water swimming, mallakhamb and tug-of-war. The first six will be medal sports and 32 gold medals will be up for grabs.

Manipur, Maharashtra and Nagaland finished one, two and three in the medal standings in the first edition of the Games. The top three states finished with identical number of five golds each but were separated by the number of silvers won.

“The first Khelo India Beach Games saw a lot of excitement among participants. We are opening up new platforms for athletes to express themselves and enjoy the sport they like to play. This is in keeping with PM Modi’s vision to create a culture of sports so that our youth can become healthy citizens. In 2026 we will see more new Khelo India events. We like to stitch our nation together through sports and spread joy through sporting competition,” said the Union minister of youth affairs and sports, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya.

Dr Mandaviya also added the Khelo India events are in keeping with the Khelo Bharat Niti. “It will be our endeavour to make sports a mass movement and make it part of the social fabric for upliftment. Events like the Beach Games also serve to tell the world about its natural beauty through sports,” he said.

The Blue Flag Ghoghla Beach will host the KIBG 2026 opening ceremony on Monday evening. Praful Patel, the administrator of the Union Territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu and Lakshadweep. The Lieutenant Governor of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, Shri Manoj Sinha, will also be present.

Teams started arriving in sunny Diu since Saturday.  Twenty-nine states and Union Territories are taking part this time. On Day 1 on Monday, Khelo India Beach Games 2026 will start with beach kabaddi matches and beach soccer matches. Last year, Haryana dominated kabaddi while in soccer, Kerala men and Odisha women won gold medals.

 ON KHELO INDIA BEACH GAMES

The Khelo India Beach Games are being held under the vertical of sports competition and talent development of Khelo India Scheme. The first edition of KIBG took place from May 19 to May 24, 2025 in Diu, UT of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu. The second edition is being held from January 5-10. This initiative by the Union sports ministry aims to promote beach sports and to enhance the reach and popularity of disciplines that can be played on sand and water bodies. In KIBG 2026, there are six medal sports: Beach Soccer, Beach Volleyball, Beach Sepak Takraw, Beach Kabaddi, Pencak Silat and Open water swimming. Mallakhamb and Tug of war are the non-medal events.

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During the interactions, as per an official statement, the Panchayat representatives and public delegations highlighted a wide range of developmental issues, including improvement of rural infrastructure, drinking water supply, roads, power, ration distribution, youth welfare and sports facilities before the minister.

The minister gave patient and attentive hearing to every delegation and assured them that their genuine grievances would be addressed in a time-bound and transparent manner. He emphasised that the Omar Abdullah-led government is committed to ensure that development reaches the last household and public representatives at the grassroots level are made active partners in governance.

To give immediate relief and boost to local development, Satish Sharma issued several Constituency Development Fund (CDF) sanctions on the spot for various works, enabling the execution of much-needed projects without delay. He said this step reflects the government’s resolve to cut red tape and ensure quick implementation of welfare and development schemes in rural and border areas like Chhamb.

Satish Sharma further reaffirmed that the concerns raised by Panchayats during the outreach programme would be closely monitored and followed up by the concerned departments to ensure timely and effective resolution.

Later in the day, Minister Sharma attended the final match of the T20 Cricket Tournament at Gole Gujral, Jammu, which was organised to mark the sacred martyrdom of Chaar Sahibzaade.

On the occasion, he paid glowing tributes to the Sahibzaades and described their supreme sacrifice as a timeless inspiration for humanity, particularly the youth, to stand for truth, courage and righteousness.

Interacting with the players, spectators and organisers, the Minister said that sports not only promote physical fitness but also instil discipline, teamwork and leadership qualities among young people.

Congratulating the winning team and appreciating the organisers for promoting sports at the grassroots level, Satish Sharma announced that the Mini Sports Stadium at Gole Gujral will be equipped with modern and state-of-the-art facilities.

He assured that the stadium will be upgraded with a volleyball court, synthetic turf, improved cricket pitch, and installation of solar lighting, making it a vibrant hub for sporting activities and training for local youth. He added that these facilities will provide talented players with better infrastructure to hone their skills and compete at higher levels.

The Minister reiterated that the Omar Abdullah-led Government has placed special emphasis on strengthening sports infrastructure and encouraging youth participation in sports and allied activities across Jammu and Kashmir. He said that the government is determined to create a healthy, progressive and empowered generation by investing in sports, technology and community development.

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