Bandipora, August 25: The District Tennis Ball Cricket Championship Bandipora 2026 began on Tuesday at Government Boys Higher Secondary School, Nadihal, with more than 20 teams from different schools across the district participating in the three-day championship.

The championship is being organised by the District Tennis Ball Cricket Association Bandipora in collaboration with the J&K Sports Council.

The knockout-format championship features participation from boys and girls across pre-teen, sub-junior, junior and boys categories, providing school-going players an opportunity to compete beyond their respective schools and showcase their cricketing talent.

Principal Government Boys Higher Secondary School Bandipora, Mohammad Hussain Magray, attended the opening ceremony as the chief guest. Brand Ambassador of Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, Padma Shri awardee Faisal Ali Dar was also present on the occasion.

Addressing the participants, Magray said the championship provides students with an important platform to showcase their talent by competing not only with their friends and classmates but also with students from other schools. He encouraged the young players to make the most of such opportunities, saying competitive exposure helps students build confidence, discipline and sportsmanship.

Faisal Ali Dar said sports play an important role in keeping youth away from drugs and other harmful habits. He said championships such as these provide young players with valuable exposure, help them gain competitive experience and open pathways for talented athletes to progress to higher levels of competition.

The championship will also serve as a platform for talent identification, with the best-performing players to be selected for the upcoming State Tennis Ball Cricket Championship scheduled to be held in Kulgam next month.

The event will conclude on August 27 with the prize distribution ceremony, where the winning teams will be felicitated.