CM Omar Abdullah Lauds J&K's 22-Medal Show at School Games

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has lauded Jammu and Kashmir's wushu and taekwondo teams after they clinched overall team trophies at the National School Games, Srinagar said on Wednesday.

The Chief Minister acknowledged the success of the two teams at the 70th National School Games, which was held at the Government College of Physical Education in Ganderbal. Together, the teams claimed 22 medals across both sports.

Taekwondo proved the bigger contributor. Between October 22 and 26, the squad returned with 14 medals, comprising four golds, three silvers and seven bronzes.

Wushu added eight more medals from competition held between October 15 and 19. The count included one gold, two silver and five bronze medals.

The national meet had been inaugurated by Omar Abdullah on October 15. More than 1,300 young athletes representing 23 states and Union Territories took part, providing a national stage for emerging talent.

In his message, the Chief Minister described the achievements as evidence of Jammu and Kashmir's expanding sporting capability and of the hard work and dedication shown by local young athletes. He also restated the government's commitment to building sports infrastructure across the region and nurturing excellence in sport.

The 70th National School Games was conducted by the Youth Services and Sports Department of Jammu and Kashmir under the School Games Federation of India (SGFI).

What the Sports Involve

Wushu and taekwondo are separate martial arts with roots in China and Korea, although they are sometimes classified together as combat or performance sports. Wushu's two main branches are taolu, a performance discipline in which judges score choreographed sequences featuring acrobatics, high kicks, body-turning moves and traditional weapons such as swords, spears and broadswords, and sanda, or free sparring, a full-contact fight in which competitors punch, kick and grapple on an elevated platform called leitai.

Taekwondo, a Korean martial art and Olympic combat sport, is centred on fast, dynamic kicking techniques.