The J&K Sports Speed Ball Association (JKSBA) hosted a send-off ceremony for the J&K Speedball team at Jammu Sanskriti School in preparation for the 14th National Speedball Championship 2024. The championship will take place from August 28 to 30 at the Government Indoor Sports Stadium in New Delhi.

The team was warmly bid farewell by Rohini Aima, Principal cum Vice-Chairperson of Jammu Sanskriti School, and Pooja Malhotra, Founder Patron of JKSBA. The selection of the team was overseen by Sunny Nanda, General Secretary of JKSSB, and Chief Coordinator of SPAA India.

Leading the team are coaches Renu Devi, Sahil Janua, Anju Devi, Amir Koshal, Sahil Kaith, and Kailash. The squad includes prominent players such as Akshobya, Samaksh, Goutam, Shravan, Nirvaan, Sayam, Aryan, Tejveer, Ranveer, Rehaan, Keshav, Aryana Choudhary, Manvendra Sinh, Lavya Mahajan, Pragati, Adityam, Aahil, Agrim, Hari Om, Shivam, Somdev, Anurag, Bhivesh, Abhimanyu, Gagandeep, Akam, Tanshiq, Maiyank, and Divyansh.

During the ceremony, Aima commended the team for their consistent performance and extended her best wishes for their success in the upcoming national championship. The event highlighted the team’s readiness and determination as they prepare to compete at the national level.

The 70th Annual Dali (Kalakote) Dangal concluded in a dramatic fashion as wrestlers Surjit Singh of J&K Police, Reasi, and Yudhbir of Delhi shared the title after their bout ended in a draw following a 27-minute contest. Both wrestlers were awarded a cash prize of Rs. 20,000 each. The prize was jointly presented by contractor Thakur Randhir Singh, Shiv Kumar Sharma, Swarn Singh, and former Sarpanch Ranjeet Singh.

The event, held in the village of Dali in district Rajouri, was organized by the Dali Dangal Committee in collaboration with the J&K Indian Style Wrestling Association. The event was supervised by Swarn Singh (President), former Sarpanch Ranjeet Singh, Sukhrib Singh (Pali), and Raspal Singh Mahla. Senior BJP Leader and contractor Thakur Randhir Singh graced the occasion as the chief guest, while Shiv Kumar Sharma, President of the J&K Indian Style Wrestling Association, presided over the function. Other notable attendees included Naib Tehsildar Kalakote Mohan Lal, Naib Tehsildar Solki Manoj Kumar, retired chief librarian Raspal Singh Mahla, and Yuv Raj Singh, State BJP Yuva Morcha Leader.

In the second main bout, Yuv Raj of Marzali, Akhnoor, emerged victorious over Anil of Reasi, earning a cash prize of Rs. 9,000. Anil, the runner-up, received Rs. 7,000. Another exciting match saw Subash of Reasi defeat Banu of Akhnoor, with Subash winning Rs. 6,000 and Banu taking home Rs. 5,000. A third major bout between Jarnail Singh of Reasi and Abha of Akhnoor also ended in a draw, with both wrestlers receiving a joint cash prize of Rs. 10,000.

Throughout the day, a total of 76 bouts were conducted. The organizers distributed a total of Rs. 2,15,000 in cash prizes to the participating wrestlers. The event was executed smoothly with the support of committee members, including Swarn Singh, former Sarpanch Ranjeet Singh, Subhrib Singh (Pali), Rattan Singh Dogra, Sukhrib Singh (Teacher), and Dharam Paul. Matches were officiated by Kirpal Singh, Deep Kumar, Prabhat Singh, Jagdev Singh, and Ajit Kumar.

Soham Kamotra has made history as the first chess player from Jammu and Kashmir to earn the prestigious International Master (IM) title. The 20-year-old achieved this milestone by crossing the significant Elo rating threshold of 2400 at the Abu Dhabi Masters 2024, securing his place among the elite players in Indian chess.

A Remarkable Journey:
Path to the Title: Soham’s ascent to the IM title has been characterized by relentless effort and consistent performance. His journey began with his first IM norm at the Abu Dhabi Masters in 2022. He followed this with a second norm at the Hanoi GM Round Robin in Vietnam the subsequent year. His third and final norm was achieved at the Odisha GM International in 2024. Over six years, Soham progressed from an Elo rating of 2000 in 2018 to surpassing the 2400 mark, showcasing a remarkable improvement and dedication.

Background and Training: A former under-18 national champion, Soham has demonstrated extraordinary commitment to chess. His training has been guided by several prominent coaches, including Vivek Bharti from Jammu and Sumit Grover. He currently trains under Grandmaster Swapnil Dhopade and has also benefitted from a training camp led by Grandmaster Shyam Sundar.

Coach’s Perspective: Grandmaster Swapnil Dhopade commented on Soham’s achievement, stating, “Soham has faced many ups and downs in his career, but his persistence and strength have been his greatest assets. He is a huge talent and, with continued dedication, is well on his way to becoming a Grandmaster.”

Impact and Inspiration: Soham Kamotra’s historic achievement is poised to inspire a new generation of chess players in Jammu and Kashmir. His success is expected to foster a stronger chess culture in the region and motivate young enthusiasts to pursue their own aspirations in the game.

Future Prospects: With the International Master title now under his belt, Soham’s future in chess looks promising. His dedication and achievements signal a bright path ahead, potentially leading him towards the Grandmaster title.