Ubaid Kashmiri
Kulgam, Nov 13: District Kulgam emerged as the champion of the UT Level Inter-District U-19 Cricket Tournament, organized by the Department of Youth Services and Sports (YSS), J&K, and hosted by DYSSO Anantnag at multiple venues in the Bijbehara area of district Anantnag.
In a thrilling final encounter at the BMHSS Ground, Bijbehara, Team Kulgam edged past Kupwara by just one wicket to clinch the coveted title. Kupwara, after winning the toss, posted a competitive total of 149 runs. In reply, Kulgam chased down the target dramatically on the last ball of the match, sealing victory with a boundary struck by Faiz Padder, the hero of the final.
Padder’s remarkable all-round performance, which included 4 wickets and 20 vital runs—culminating in the match-winning four—earned him the Man of the Match award.
The post-match presentation ceremony was graced by MLA Bijbehara Syed Bashir Ahmad Veeri as the chief guest, along with Principal BMHSS Bijbehara Mohd Iqbal Ganie, DYSSO Anantnag Raja Yaqoob, and other officials from the YSS Department. The chief guest distributed trophies and medals among the winning and runner-up teams.
Meanwhile, Kamran Riyaz from Pulwama was declared the Man of the Tournament for his outstanding all-round performance, scoring 187 runs and taking 5 wickets during the championship.
The tournament witnessed enthusiastic participation from around 350 young cricketers representing 17 districts across both Jammu and Kashmir divisions, showcasing exceptional talent, discipline, and sportsmanship throughout the event
