The 69th National School Games inaugurated in Jammu and Kashmir

The Directorate of Youth Services and Sports, Government of Jammu and Kashmir, is organizing the 69th National School Games (NSG) in the state. The competitions include football, wushu, taekwondo, and table tennis events.

• In Jammu and Kashmir, the 69th National School Games (NSG) have begun. The event is being organized by the Directorate of Youth Services and Sports, Jammu and Kashmir.
• In this year’s National School Games, 30 teams representing various states and union territories across the country are participating, and matches are to be played at six different venues. The competitions include football, wushu, taekwondo, and table tennis events.
• Chief Minister Omar Abdullah formally inaugurated the 69th National School Games by kicking a football at the TRC Football Ground in Srinagar. Thus, this national-level sports event officially began.
• Meanwhile, in the opening match held at the TRC Ground in Srinagar, the Jammu and Kashmir Under-19 football team defeated Karnataka by 3 goals. On the same ground, West Bengal defeated Delhi by one goal.
• At the Kashmir University Ground, the match between Maharashtra and Vidya Bharati teams ended in a draw. On the same ground, the Meghalaya team defeated the Chhattisgarh team.
• The School Games Federation of India (SGFI) was established in December 1954 to promote sports among school children and to organize national and international competitions for boys and girls under 19 years of age.
• SGFI is recognized by the Ministry of Sports and the Indian Olympic Association and is affiliated with the Asian School Sports Federation and the International School Sports Federation.

Key facts related to the 68th National School Games

• Overall Winner: Manipur was the overall team champion for the 2024–25 session of the 68th National School Games.
• Sports Disciplines: These games included several sports such as archery, athletics, badminton, football, fencing, judo, squash, etc.

Venues and Dates:

• Athletics (Under-17): Held in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh from 26–30 November 2024.
• Squash (Under-19): Started in New Delhi from January 2025.
• Football (Under-19 Girls): The competition was held in Manipur from 15–21 April 2025.
• Judo, Fencing, Wushu, and Football: Some events were declared closed in Jammu on 10 December 2024.

Linthoi Chanambam won India’s first medal at the Judo Junior World Championships

• Manipur’s judo player Linthoi Chanambam created history by winning India’s first medal at the Judo Junior World Championships in Lima, Peru. The 19-year-old Chanambam defeated Jony Geilijn of the Netherlands to win the bronze medal in the women’s 63 kg category.
• Earlier, Chanambam lost to Japan’s So Morichika in her final Group D match. After Morichika reached the final of the women’s 63 kg category, Chanambam entered the medal match through the repechage.
• This is Chanambam’s second age-group World Championship medal, and she also has the distinction of being the first Indian judoka to become a cadet world champion. She achieved this feat three years ago in 2022.