The U-19 boys kabaddi tournament has officially begun at the Indoor Sports Stadium in Doda, Jammu and Kashmir, bringing together young kabaddi players from districts across the Jammu Division. The three day competition is being held from September 12 to September 14, 2026, with teams competing for divisional honours and an opportunity to represent Jammu Division at the next level.
Organised by the Department of Youth Services and Sports, Doda, under the Directorate of Youth Services and Sports, J&K, the tournament provides an important platform for young players to showcase their skills. The competition also serves as a talent identification event ahead of upcoming J&K UT level competitions and national school games.
Tournament Opens With Grand Ceremony
The Inter district kabaddi tournament began with an athlete march past and a formal oath taking ceremony at the Indoor Sports Stadium. Additional Deputy Commissioner Doda Anil Kumar Thakur attended the opening ceremony as the Chief Guest and officially inaugurated the competition.
Thakur encouraged the participating players to demonstrate discipline and sportsmanship throughout the tournament. He also urged the young athletes to respect the rules of kabaddi and use the competition as an opportunity to improve both their physical and mental abilities.
The tournament is being conducted under the supervision of Smt. Anuradha Gupta, IAS, Director General of Youth Services and Sports J&K, Joint Director Inderjeet Singh Parihar and DYSSO Doda Ashok Kumar.
Ramban and Reasi Make Strong Starts
The opening day produced some impressive performances across the two pools. In Pool A, Ramban defeated Kathua by 24 points after controlling the match through effective raids and strong defensive ankle holds.
Pool B witnessed an even bigger winning margin as Reasi defeated Kishtwar by 43 points. Reasi produced a commanding attacking performance and recorded the biggest victory margin of the opening day.
The results set up an exciting second phase of league matches as teams continued their efforts to secure a place in the later stages of the competition.
Competitive Matches on Day Two
The second day of the Divisional level kabaddi tournament featured several closely contested encounters. Kathua bounced back from their opening defeat by defeating Samba by 16 points, with their defensive chain work helping them control the match.
Jammu then edged past Doda by six points in a closely fought contest. The match remained competitive until the final minute, with both teams fighting hard for crucial points.
In Pool B, Rajouri defeated Reasi by six points, managing to overcome the side that had recorded the biggest win on the opening day. Poonch also produced an impressive performance, defeating Kishtwar by 38 points.
Tournament Provides Pathway for Young Players
The Under-19 kabaddi championship is more than just a divisional competition, as it also provides an important pathway for talented young players. Performances during the tournament will help officials identify players for the Jammu Division Kabaddi Contingent.
The selected players are expected to represent the division in upcoming J&K UT level inter division competitions and national school games. With several districts competing against each other, the tournament offers players valuable experience in high level competitive kabaddi.
As the competition continues until September 14, teams will look to maintain their momentum and secure their places in the later stages. For the young players taking part, the tournament represents an important opportunity to take another step forward in their kabaddi careers.
