Once hailed as a premier sporting venue in North Kashmir, the Khushal Sports Stadium has devolved into little more than a jogging path. Who is accountable for this decline, and what does it mean for the youth’s future in Sopore?
WS/VP Special Report
Sopore, Oct 21 : Sports is a powerful tool to promote peace, tolerance, and understanding, bringing people together across boundaries, cultures, and religions. Its values—teamwork, fairness, discipline, and respect—are universally recognized and can foster solidarity and social cohesion. Yet, does this truly apply to Sopore, where sports stadiums remain in disarray despite government and sports council efforts? Once-promising facilities now lie neglected.
It is disheartening to witness the current situation at Khushal Sports Stadium. “It not only breaks hearts but also raises concerns about how those claiming to be caretakers of the Sopore have failed to secure a future for coming generations,” said Aqib, a student passionate about sports, especially cricket.
In a conversation with The Web Story/Varmul Post, he expressed, “Where can we kids go to play? How can we fulfill our dreams? It feels like we should abandon our aspirations of becoming sportsmen, as all we see on the fields now is something entirely different.”
He said, “Development should always be a priority, but what good is it if it snatches childhood away from children? Keeping dreams alive now feels like climbing a mountain.”
In such conditions, how can the youth avoid going down the wrong path?
A project worth Rs. 8.25 crores was initiated a few years ago to upgrade Khushal Sports Stadium, but ironically, it has led to the decline of cricket and other sports, limiting playing spaces for the youth.
A group of sports enthusiasts in Sopore shared with The Web Story/Varmul Post, “For the past five years, we’ve seen ongoing construction at this sports stadium. We believe that a single moment of error brings a century of punishment. Certain individuals have effectively ended sports in Sopore.”
They pointed out that this project was meant solely for Bandipora, but the locals there, recognizing their passion for sports, rejected it. They feared that if construction took place in Bandipora, it would undermine the credibility of sports facilities and ruin the future for local sports enthusiasts. Meanwhile, the so-called caretakers in Sopore allowed this project to proceed, jeopardizing opportunities for children and forcing the youth to grapple with limitations, especially in cricket.
They lamented, “The Khushal Sports Stadium was intended for cricket lovers, but now this ground has been divided into three parts, leaving us confused as to why this was done. Previously installed floodlights brought excitement for night matches, but suddenly our dreams were shattered, and now we suffer while no one appears to care.”
“Why can’t we play cricket? The ground is no longer suitable for cricket enthusiasts, which is unfortunate for everyone, especially the youth in Sopore. We were thrilled when the floodlights were installed, thinking we could promote sports and start night cricket. However, despite significant investment, everything lies wasted. We in Sopore have always suffered and continue to do so.”
After facing many obstacles, youth groups had rekindled an interest in sports, hoping to keep children away from drugs and increase participation in sports activities. Unfortunately, due to the actions of some troublemakers, Sopore has once again veered off track, leaving the youth struggling to engage in sports.
Ultimately, they ask, “Where can our children play? Where can they go?”
They raised their voices and expressed hope that the new government will enact positive changes, saving the younger generation and allowing local sports lovers to thrive again.
Now, a question remains: Will MLA Irshad Rasool Kar respond to these concerns? Will he witness the youth of Sopore playing once again on the sports fields? Will the sports grounds of Sopore be uplifted? Only time will tell.
