J&K Kabaddi Push: Stadium Renaming Demand, Pro Coach Roped In
Association meets LG; Jaipur Pink Panthers coach to train UT men’s team
- J&K Kabaddi Association seeks stadium renaming after Prof. Chaman Lal Gupta
- Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha assures sympathetic consideration
- Pro Kabaddi League coach Vinod Kumar to train J&K men’s team
- Initiative aims at scientific talent scouting and national-level performance
GG News Bureau
Jammu, 6th Feb: The Jammu & Kashmir Amateur Kabaddi Association has sought the renaming of the Kabaddi stadium in honour of Prof. Chaman Lal Gupta while also announcing a major training initiative with a Pro Kabaddi League coach for the Union Territory’s men’s team.
A delegation led by Dr. Kuldeep Kumar Gupta, General Secretary of the Association, met Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and submitted a memorandum requesting that the stadium be named after Prof. Gupta, a noted leader, educationist and long-time supporter of kabaddi in the region.
The delegation included Prof. Gupta’s grandson Aashran Mahajan, Technical Director Sarwant Singh Gill, former General Secretary Surinder Mohan, and Jammu district president Inderjeet Sharma. The Lieutenant Governor assured the delegation that the request would be examined sympathetically. The association expressed gratitude for the meeting and voiced optimism about a positive decision.
In a parallel development aimed at strengthening the sport’s competitive profile, the J&K Sports Council, in coordination with the association, has engaged Vinod Kumar, coach of Pro Kabaddi League franchise Jaipur Pink Panthers, to train and mentor the J&K men’s kabaddi team ahead of national competitions.
The move is intended to introduce professional training methods, scientific talent identification and high-performance preparation for players across the Union Territory. The initiative will focus on systematic scouting and selection of promising youth to build a strong pool of athletes capable of competing at the national level.
J&K Sports Council Secretary Nuzhat Gul said that exposure to elite coaching would help raise the standard of kabaddi in the region. She reaffirmed the council’s commitment to providing infrastructure, expert coaching and competitive platforms to athletes.
Dr. Kuldeep Gupta, along with coach Vinod Kumar, also held discussions with the Sports Council on a roadmap for kabaddi development. Kumar expressed satisfaction with the growth of sports infrastructure in the Union Territory, noting that improved facilities have created a conducive environment for high-performance sports.
Dr. Gupta said the association would intensify efforts to identify and groom talent across districts, adding that the initiative aligns with the broader national vision of youth empowerment through sports. The collaboration is expected to improve immediate competitive outcomes while laying a foundation for long-term development of kabaddi in Jammu & Kashmir.
