Kashmiri kickboxing champion slams govt for lack of facilities

Tajamul Islam, the eight-year-old world kickboxing champion from Bandipora district, has hit out at the Jammu and Kashmir government for not providing proper training facilities and equipment for her and other sportspersons from her district.

In a four-minute video uploaded on Facebook, Islam, who won a gold medal at world kickboxing championship in Italy last year, said it is a matter of shame that the state government has not been able to build a proper indoor stadium in Bandipora for sports persons, a move which could have enabled them to train throughout the year.

"We do not have mats and a proper (roofed) hall where we can practice. The state government talks big but has not done anything to provide these things to us," she said in the video.

While showing the tin shed used as 'indoor hall', the youngster said there was no heating arrangement inside that would have made training possible during winters.

"The roof is also leaking and rainwater has created potholes in the hall floor. Look at the facilities in Jammu and Delhi. Rain does not affect the sportspersons there and they can practice throughout the year," she said.

Islam appealed to the Centre and state government to construct an indoor stadium in Bandipora and also provide the required equipment for her to continue her training.

Reacting to the appeal made by the youngster, Union Sports Minister Vijay Goel told ANI, "Have written to CM of J&K that she (Tajamul Islam) must be heard and given all the facilities she needs.

A video grab of Tajamul Islam making an appeal to the government over provision of facilities