In a first in Srinagar, students from different districts of Kashmir are participating in night football tournament which commenced on Friday night at Delhi Public School Athwajan here.
The opening match was played between the host DPS Athwajan and Sanctorum School, Sopore.
“The tournament is the first of its kind to be held in the country for school children. DPS Srinagar achieves commendable distinction of being the first school to have a fully lit school ground to allow play at night,” said Ahsan Quddusi, chief of the organizing committee.
He added that the tournament titled ‘Chinar Cup’ is being organized in collaboration with APS Srinagar and features a total of 16 teams divided into two groups.
“Each team will play a team from its own group in a knockout format. Two matches will be played every day and the final of the tournament will be held on 16 September 2018,” he said.
“The talent in the valley is at par with any state of the country. All we need is right infrastructure and opportunity. With this tournament we hope to start a new culture of harnessing talent and providing it a platform to shine and rise,” he added.
Pro-Vice Chairman DP Dhar Memorial Trust, Vijay Dhar said that the institution is committed to develop all round excellence rather than only academic excellence.
“We are greatly excited at having the immense privilege of being the pioneers in organising sport under floodlights for school children in the whole country,” he said.
DPS Principal Alastair Freese said sport is a great way to bridge boundaries and foster an atmosphere of corroboration.
“With this small but sure step, we wish to contribute back to the society that has elevated DPS Srinagar to one of the best schools in the country,” he added.
The schools participating in the tournament are Delhi Public School Srinagar, Army Public School Srinagar, Tyndale Biscoe Srinagar, Burnhall School Srinagar, Green Valley Educational Institute, Dr AGMs City School, DPS Budgam, AGS Hanzik, J&K Sainik School Manasbal, AGS Wuzur, AGS Pahalgam, Sanctorum School Sopore, AGS Sopore and Bandipora, AGS Krusan and Chandigam.
