Pulwama, Oct 28 (KNO): Bringing laurels to Jammu and Kashmir, Yasir Arafat Wani from Dadoora village in south Kashmir's Pulwama district has won a gold medal at a national-level powerlifting championship held in Haryana.
Yasir, according to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), secured the top position among nearly 90 junior participants, emerging as one of the standout performers at the event.
The achievement has brought pride to his village and district, while highlighting the growing potential of young athletes from Kashmir.
Speaking about his success, Yasir said the gold medal was the result of hard work, dedication and consistent efforts.
"Winning a gold medal at the national level is a proud moment for me. I have worked hard to reach this stage, and this achievement has motivated me to aim higher. My goal is to continue improving and bring more laurels to Jammu and Kashmir," he said.
Yasir said Kashmir has immense sporting talent, but many athletes struggle due to inadequate infrastructure, lack of quality training facilities and financial constraints.
"There is no shortage of talent in Kashmir. Our youth have the ability to compete with athletes from across the country, but they need proper training facilities, quality equipment, financial assistance and encouragement," he said.
He said the cost of training, equipment, nutrition and travel often becomes a challenge, particularly for athletes from economically weaker backgrounds.
Urging the government to support promising sportspersons, Yasir said financial assistance and better sports infrastructure would help athletes focus on their performance and achieve greater success.
He also stressed the need for modern equipment, qualified coaches and dedicated training facilities at the grassroots level across districts.
Yasir expressed hope that his achievement would inspire more youngsters in Pulwama and other parts of Kashmir to take up sports and pursue their goals with dedication.
"The youth of Kashmir can excel at national and international levels if provided the right opportunities. With proper support and guidance, our athletes can achieve much more," he added—(KNO)