Srinagar, June 28: The 14th J&K Police Martyrs Memorial Football tournament is scheduled to be organised by the J&K Police in collaboration with JKFA from June 30 to July 16.
 A record 56 teams will take part in the tournament with 10 teams from outside the state while the rest of the teams would represent J&K. Last year only 48 teams from across country participated in the event
 The tournament will employ the knockout elimination style this year as the number of teams taking part is huge. The Bakshi and the Polo ground stadiums have been prepared to host the event in an organized manner. The opening and closing ceremonies will be held at the Bakshi stadium on June 30 and July 16 respectively while the preliminary matches will begin from July 1.
 In the curtain raiser ceremony on Thursday at Bakshi Stadium, DG Police, K.Rajendra Kumar while addressing the players said. “Youth are the backbone of the country and sports is a medium which can help them develop towards right course as it teaches discipline and leadership.”
 He assured the players that J&K police would always come forward to promote sports in the state so that players could excel in their respective sport.
 Football players from across valley were present on the occasion but due to strikes and curfew restrictions, several players were not able to witness the event. A friendly match was also played between mixed teams of boys and girls and Football kits were distributed among the players.
 This tournament, which was initiated in 1998, is organized every year by J&K Police in memory of those brave officials who laid down their lives while serving the nation.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 28 Jun 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 28 Jun 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 29 Jun 2012 00:00:00 IST