SRINAGAR, May 10 : Shahid Iqbal Choudhary on Sunday defended the selection process of the Jammu and Kashmir U-20 Football Team, asserting that sports should not be politicised at the expense of young athletes.
Speaking to reporters after flagging off the J&K U-20 Football Team from the TRC Football Ground for the prestigious Swami Vivekananda U-20 National Football Championship, Shahid said the team was selected through a fair and transparent process conducted by the Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council.
He said the Sports Council had organised professional coaching camps and selected players purely on merit from various districts of Jammu and Kashmir. According to him, several members of the squad have already represented at international levels and are capable of bringing laurels to the Union Territory.
Addressing the controversy surrounding the team’s participation in the national championship, Shahid alleged that certain vested interests deliberately spread misinformation to create confusion and obstruct youth participation in sports activities.
He clarified that the All India Football Federation (AIFF) had officially authorised the J&K Sports Council in September 2023 to oversee football-related activities in the Union Territory, including selections, training camps, coaching and management of competitions, until elections for the football association are conducted.
“The Sports Council remains the only authorised body for football selections in J&K. Unfortunately, some people are trying to mislead authorities and create hurdles to stop children from participating in national events,” he said.
Shahid further stated that an ad-hoc committee headed by Justice Gambhir was constituted in July 2025 to supervise football-related matters and elections in J&K, but since the election process has not been initiated yet, the Sports Council continues to function as the authorised body.
He criticised individuals attempting to claim control over football administration without establishing democratic structures at the grassroots level. “Sports associations function through a pyramid system from block and district levels upward. Some people only want authority at the top without building the structure below. We will not allow that,” he said.
Expressing concern over repeated controversies involving youth sports, Shahid said conflicting reports regarding the team’s participation created anxiety among parents and disappointment among players who had trained for months.
He revealed that after confusion emerged over the participation of the J&K team, the matter was immediately taken up with the AIFF on April 24, following which the federation officially cleared the team’s participation after examining all authorisation documents submitted by the Sports Council.
The Commissioner/Secretary also warned against misinformation campaigns and anonymous social media attacks aimed at damaging the sports ecosystem in Jammu and Kashmir. He said legal action would be taken wherever necessary.
Highlighting the government’s broader vision for sports development, Shahid said focus is being laid on talent identification, organisation of leagues and tournaments, and development of sports infrastructure across districts.
He said major infrastructure projects are underway in districts including Anantnag, Ganderbal, Shopian and Srinagar, while world-class facilities are also being planned across the Union Territory. Football, volleyball, kabaddi and cricket leagues are being organised under an annual sports calendar covering every district and block, he added.
Appealing to media organisations to report responsibly, Shahid urged journalists to verify facts from official sources before publishing reports that could negatively impact young athletes.
Reiterating the government’s commitment to fair and transparent sports administration, he said every deserving athlete from Jammu and Kashmir would continue to receive opportunities to compete at national and international levels.
“Our sole objective is to strengthen sports culture and safeguard the interests of youth. Children should be allowed to grow and excel in sports without interference from politics and vested interests,” he added.
