KARGIL: Around 500 student-athletes from across Tai-Suru converged at Higher Secondary School Panikhar on Wednesday as the Zonal Level Inter-School Tournament 2026 commenced with spirited participation, bringing together young sporting talent from 32 educational institutions in the zone.
Organised by the Zonal Physical Education Office, Tai-Suru, under the Department of Youth Services and Sports, Kargil, the tournament forms part of the department’s Annual Calendar of Activities 2026. Twenty-two Middle Schools, eight High Schools and two Higher Secondary Schools are participating in the multi-day sporting event.
The tournament was inaugurated by Councillor Tai-Suru Abdul Hadi, who attended the opening ceremony as Chief Guest. Principal HSS Panikhar Mukhtar Hussain was the Guest of Honour, while Zonal Education Officer (ZEO) Tai-Suru Abdul Hadi attended as Special Guest. The event was witnessed by school heads, physical education teachers, technical officials and a large gathering of sports enthusiasts.
The opening day witnessed keenly contested matches in Under-14 Boys and Girls Volleyball and Handball competitions, besides the Under-19 Boys Volleyball tournament, setting the stage for an intense sporting schedule in the coming days.
Welcoming the participants, Zonal Physical Education Officer (ZPEO) Tai-Suru, Mohd Sadiq Sheikh, said the tournament venue had been shifted from the Sports Stadium at Khows to the playground of HSS Panikhar owing to infrastructural constraints. He thanked the school administration for extending logistical and administrative support to ensure the successful conduct of the event.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Guest praised the organisers for conducting the tournament despite limited sports infrastructure and assured that efforts were underway to improve sporting facilities across the zone. He also welcomed the newly posted Physical Education Masters and Teachers, expressing confidence that their presence would strengthen grassroots sports development in the region.
Speaking on the occasion, Mukhtar Hussain underscored the role of sports in the holistic development of students, stressing that regular participation in games promotes both physical fitness and mental well-being while helping identify emerging talent.
The tournament will continue as per schedule and conclude on June 12 with a closing ceremony.
