Youth Services & Sports (YSS), J&K, through its Academies of Excellence, organised a special football mentoring session at Khel Gaon, Nagrota, with former Indian footballer and former Technical Member of the All India Football Federation (AIFF), Arun Malhotra.
More than 100 young footballers participated in the session and benefited from Malhotra’s experience and guidance. Deputy Director Planning, Youth Services & Sports, J&K, Megha Boagia welcomed Malhotra and the participating players and emphasised the importance of providing budding athletes with access to experienced sportspersons, quality coaching and professional mentorship.
During the interaction, Malhotra shared experiences from his playing career and guided the youngsters on various aspects of the game, including technical skills, tactical understanding, fitness, discipline, teamwork and game awareness. He encouraged the players to remain focused, disciplined and committed to regular practice to achieve excellence in football.
The session provided the young footballers with an opportunity to interact directly with an experienced international-level professional and gain insights into the demands of competitive football.
According to the handout issued, the YSS Academies of Excellence are focusing on grassroots sports development, talent identification and nurturing young athletes through structured coaching, quality infrastructure and expert mentorship.
The initiative underlines the department’s efforts to strengthen the sporting ecosystem in J&K and create greater opportunities for young athletes to compete and excel at higher levels.