Congress leader Shyam Sunder Batra inaugurates tournament, urges youth to embrace sports and stay away from drugs
Yamunanagar | Pen of Democracy News Desk
The spirit of competitive sport and rural sporting excellence was on full display as the 7th National Kabaddi Championship concluded in Panjeto village of Yamunanagar, with Rohtak emerging as the tournament champion after an impressive performance in the final.
The prestigious championship witnessed enthusiastic participation from 35 teams representing Haryana, Punjab and several other states, making it one of the region’s major kabaddi events. Hundreds of spectators gathered to cheer the players, creating a vibrant atmosphere throughout the tournament.
Senior Congress leader Shyam Sunder Batra attended the inaugural ceremony as the chief guest and officially declared the championship open. The organising committee welcomed him with a traditional felicitation and presented him with a memento in recognition of his presence and support for rural sports.
Addressing players and spectators, Batra stressed the importance of sports in shaping a healthy and disciplined society. He said games like kabaddi not only strengthen physical fitness but also develop confidence, teamwork, determination and mental resilience among young people.
“Sports provide youth with a positive direction in life. They should stay away from drugs and devote their energy to sports and other constructive activities. A healthy generation is the foundation of a strong nation,” Batra said.
He appreciated the organisers for successfully hosting a national-level tournament in a rural setting and said such competitions provide talented players with an opportunity to showcase their skills while promoting India’s traditional sporting heritage.
The championship concluded with an exciting final in which Rohtak defeated Nizampur (Delhi) to lift the championship trophy. The runners-up also displayed remarkable fighting spirit throughout the tournament.
The winning and runner-up teams were honoured with trophies and prizes during the closing ceremony amid loud applause from the audience.
Organisers said the tournament aimed to encourage young athletes, promote kabaddi at the grassroots level and provide a competitive platform for emerging talent from different parts of the country. They expressed their commitment to organising similar sporting events in the future to further strengthen the culture of sports in rural Haryana.
A large number of sports enthusiasts, local residents and supporters remained present throughout the event, encouraging players and celebrating the spirit of fair competition.
Among those present were Sahil Narwal, Deep, Rahul Mandkhedi, Vikas, Amit, Balram, Akash Batra, Abhi Walia, Vikram Rathi, Anil Kumar, Raj Kumar, Vipin Kamboj, Bharat Walia, Lovely Wadhwan, Sunny Kashyap and Ashok Garg, along with several members of the organising committee and local dignitaries.
