Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, June 6: Son of the soil, Lt Col Ranveer Singh Jamwal, who conquered Mount Everest thrice, today said that Jammu and Kashmir Government should have a full fledged sports policy like Haryana, so that our sportsmen could also shine in their fields like other States of the country.
While interacting with media persons during ‘Meet the Press’ programme organized by Press Club of Jammu at the club premises here today, Lt Col Jamwal rued for not having any sports policy for the sportspersons in the State.
“It is unfortunate that despite having no dearth in the field of sports in Jammu and Kashmir, the State Government has not yet framed a sports policy for the budding players and this is the reason, players prefer to move out of the State and represent other states for acknowledgment,’’ he opined.
Feeling proud to being Dogra to conquer the Mount Everest, Lt Col Jamwal straightway said, “Indian Army made me.” He added that it hardly matters whether State Government is acclaiming his achievements or not.
Lt Col Jamwal was among the member of expedition team that conquered Mount Everest on May 19, 2016.
Son of the soil, the mountaineer is a native of Badhori village in Samba district of Jammu region and had joined Indian Army on October 24, 1994 as Sepoy in Dogra Regiment but cleared the Officer Examination and joined the IMA in 1998.
He is a trained ‘Mountain Rescue Specialist’ from Switzerland and has been actively involved in mountain rescue operations across the mountain terrain of country including J&K, Gharwal, Kumaon, Nepal Region saving many precious lives.
Asserting that every mountain teaches a lesson, he said, “I feel that I never conquered the Everest but it is the Mount Everest that conquered me.’’
“Three times I have conquered the highest peak in the last three years and still hopeful that many more to come,’’ said the Lt Col Jamwal.
The mountaineer, however, in a message to the younger generation advised to be part of sports activities and said, “no doubt technology has changed our lives and benefitting us in many fields but I feel that instead of playing videos games, kids should move out and play sports to stay physically fit and mentally stronger”.
Earlier, president, Press Club of Jammu, Ashwani Kumar honoured Lt Col Jamwal with a club memento and a shawl.
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