YSS Cup Cricket Trials Conclude Successfully in Poonch; Over 430 Young Cricketers Showcase Talent

GNS ONLINE NEWS PORTAL

POONCH DECM, 19:-The Department of Youth Services & Sports (DYSS), District Poonch, today successfully concluded the YSS Cup Open Cricket Trials for Under-17 and Under-19 Boys and Girls at the Sports Stadium, Poonch.

The multi-day talent hunt, which commenced on 17 December 2025, witnessed overwhelming participation and enthusiasm from young cricketers across the district.

The trials were conducted under the able guidance and visionary leadership of Ms. Anuradha Gupta, JKAS, Director General, Youth Services & Sports, J&K, with constant support from Ms. Venakshi Koul, Joint Director, Youth Services & Sports, Jammu, and Ms. Megha Baogia, Deputy Director (Activities). At the district level, the entire process was supervised and coordinated by Mr. Mohd Qasim, District Youth Services & Sports Officer (DYSSO), Poonch.

An impressive total of 430 players participated in the trials, reflecting the growing sports culture in the region. In the Boys’ Under-17 and Under-19 categories, 340 players displayed their cricketing skills, while 90 girls participated across the Under-17 and Under-19 age groups, marking a significant rise in female participation and interest in cricket.

The trials were conducted in a fair, transparent, and systematic manner by a duly constituted selection committee. Players were evaluated on the basis of technical proficiency, physical fitness, discipline, teamwork, and overall match temperament, ensuring merit-based selection.

The successful conclusion of the YSS Cup Trials underscores the department’s commitment to grassroots talent identification, youth engagement, and inclusive sports development. By providing a structured platform to young athletes, the Department of Youth Services & Sports continues to play a pivotal role in nurturing sporting excellence, promoting healthy lifestyles, and empowering youth through sports, especially in border and remote districts like Poonch.

Such initiatives reaffirm DYSS’s vision of creating pathways for aspiring sportspersons to progress to higher competitive levels, while fostering discipline, confidence, and national sporting spirit among the youth.