GANDERBAL: The picturesque campus of the Government College of Physical Education (GCOPE) in Ganderbal witnessed a momentous celebration of athletic prowess, unity, and youthful energy today as the 70th National School Games Taekwondo officially began. Set against the majestic backdrop of Kashmir, the prestigious championship was declared open by the Chief Guest, Senior Superintendent of Police Ganderbal, Harshal Rajesh Mahajan.

Addressing the gathering of talented young athletes, coaches, and sports officials who have converged from every corner of the nation, the Chief Guest encouraged the participants to embrace the true spirit of competition, emphasizing that sports play an essential role in character building, cultural exchange, and overall personality development. The inaugural ceremony opened with a warm and inspiring welcome address delivered by Additional Secretary to the Government, Department of Youth Services and Sports, Tinna Mahajan.

In her address, she highlighted the stellar role played by the Directorate of Youth Services and Sports in grooming sports talent among the youth and school children of Jammu and Kashmir. She further underscored the visionary leadership and tireless commitment of Director General Youth Services and Sports, Anuradha Gupta, whose earnest vision is for every participant to take back lifetime memories, serving as cultural ambassadors of Kashmir's unmatched beauty, rich heritage, and legendary hospitality.

Adding perspective to the national scale of the event, School Games Federation of India Observer and Senior Field Officer Ajay Singh Chandel took the stage to express his profound admiration for the flawless organization by the Directorate. Drawing comparisons from his officiating experience during the 69th National School Games, he lauded the meticulous planning and exceptional execution of the tournament. He also made special mention of the media and publicity committee, recalling how he closely followed the live broadcasts of the preceding Wushu championships from his home in Uttar Pradesh, praising the dedicated team for bringing the action to audiences nationwide.

The ceremony also featured addresses by Principal GCOPE Ganderbal, Shaukat Hussain, highlighting the extensive arrangements put in place to host hundreds of visiting participants. The proceedings of the grand event were seamlessly and eloquently conducted by Media and Publicity Coordinator and Convener of the Media and Publicity Committee, Azhar Hajni.

To uphold the highest standards of fair play and integrity, solemn oaths were administered to all participating players to compete with absolute discipline and sportsmanship, alongside a technical oath taken by officials from across the country to maintain rigorous professional decorum during officiating. With the opening formalities successfully concluded, exciting taekwondo bouts have officially kicked off across three dedicated arenas, with results and medal tallies to be shared with the media in due course.

Your voice can reach the world: At JK Monitor, we firmly believe that every well-researched idea has the power to inspire change beyond geographical boundaries. We are delighted to share an encouraging message from one of our esteemed contributors, Dr. Rakesh Verma (J&K Forest Services). ā€œHis article, ā€˜When Trees Become Rights-Bearing Citizens: A Lesson from Canada for India’s Ecological Future,’ published on JK Monitor, received appreciation from La Compagnie des Papillons Bleus, the French non-profit organisation that founded and promotes the Universal Declaration of Tree Rights.ā€.  Read the message here
In loving memory of Dr. Priya Ranjan: A mentor who treated me like family
A Profound Loss: JK Monitor Mourns the Passing of Founding Chairman Dr. Priya Ranjan

We at JK Monitor are profoundly saddened by the sudden demise of our Founding Chairman, Dr. Priya Ranjan.IN LOVING MEMORY Dr Priya Ranjan

A brilliant mind who studied at Netarhat Residential School and graduated in Electrical Engineering from IIT Kharagpur before earning his PhD from the University of Maryland, Dr. Ranjan chose to return to India and dedicate his life to teaching, research and social good.

His pioneering work in networked systems, AI, robotics and biomedical applications—especially computer-vision tools for early detection of cancer and heart disease—reflected his deep belief that advanced technology must serve humanity.

For more than 15 years at JK Monitor, he remained a loyal friend, mentor and collaborator, marked by rare humility, intellectual integrity and quiet generosity. His passing leaves a void that cannot be filled. Priya, you will be deeply missed. Your life continues to remind us that knowledge finds its highest purpose in the service of others.

— Team JK Monitor

       LOOK_HERE.jpg Esteemed readers, for your convenience, we have categorized our news publishing into following šŸ‘‡