Kabaddi Fever Returns to Baramulla
The Baramulla U-17 Kabaddi Championship 2026 has officially begun, bringing together some of the most talented young players from across the district. The tournament is being organised by the Department of Youth Services and Sports Baramulla at the Boys Higher Secondary School Baramulla.
The championship comes soon after the successful Under-14 competition, showing the strong focus on developing young sporting talent in Jammu and Kashmir. With 13 zonal teams taking part, the event gives young athletes an excellent platform to showcase their skills and compete at a high level.
Tournament Format Encourages Growth
The Baramulla U17 kabaddi tournament features 13 zonal teams from different parts of the district. Instead of a direct knockout format, the organisers have introduced a league stage where every team is guaranteed at least four matches.
This format allows players to gain more match experience and learn from every game. Even if a team loses early, they still get more chances to improve and perform better in the remaining matches.
After the league stage, the top eight teams qualify for the knockout rounds, where the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final will decide the district champions.
Young Players Get a Big Opportunity
One of the biggest highlights of the championship is the chance it offers to young kabaddi players in Kashmir. The tournament is not only about winning medals but also about finding future stars for higher level competitions.
The selection panel is led by Physical Education Lecturer and Chief Selector Mohammad Arif Bhat. The technical team will closely watch every match to identify talented raiders, defenders, and all-round players who can represent the region at the state and national levels.
The league format gives selectors more time to observe each player’s abilities, consistency, and teamwork before making their decisions.
Focus on Youth Development
The championship is also helping promote sports among young people in the district. During the opening ceremony, Mubeen Ahmad Khan encouraged participants to use sports as a way to build confidence, discipline, and leadership.
He highlighted that games like kabaddi help young people stay active, develop teamwork, and make positive choices in life. Events like these also strengthen community spirit by bringing together players from different areas of Baramulla.
The continued support for school level sports reflects the growing importance of grassroots development in Jammu and Kashmir.
Exciting Opening Day
The opening day of the Baramulla U-17 Kabaddi Championship saw plenty of exciting action as teams battled for valuable points in the league stage.
Playing multiple matches tested the fitness and stamina of every team. Coaches had to manage their players carefully, while teams with strong bench strength performed better during the busy schedule.
The league stage quickly separated the strongest teams from the rest. At the end of this phase, the top eight teams earned places in the knockout rounds, where every match became a battle for the district title.
Bright Future for Kabaddi in Kashmir
The Baramulla U-17 kabaddi tournament is another positive step for the growth of kabaddi in the region. Young players are getting quality competition, experienced coaching, and the chance to impress selectors.
Events like these help build a strong foundation for the future of the sport by giving talented athletes regular opportunities to compete.
Final Thoughts
The Baramulla U-7 Kabaddi Championship has started with great excitement and high expectations. With 13 teams competing and many talented young kabaddi players in Kashmir eager to make their mark, the tournament promises thrilling action throughout the week.
More importantly, the championship continues to strengthen grassroots kabaddi by creating opportunities for the next generation of players to grow, learn, and dream of representing their state and country in the years ahead.
