![Vice Chancellor Prof. Umesh Rai along with other Faculty members addressing media persons during the curtain raiser ceremony at University of Jammu on Tuesday. Vice Chancellor Prof. Umesh Rai along with other Faculty members addressing media persons during the curtain raiser ceremony at University of Jammu on Tuesday.](https://cdndailyexcelsior.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Page12-5-3.jpg)
Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Mar 14: The University of Jammu is organizing a three-day long Inter-University Sports Festival ‘Sauhard-2023’ from tomorrow, which will be inaugurated by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. This was informed by Prof Umesh Rai, Vice Chancellor, University of Jammu, here today during a curtain raiser ceremony. The Vice Chancellor was flanked by Prof Neelu Rohmetra, Director, Directorate of Distance Education and Online Education, Prof Arvind Jasrotia, Registrar, University of Jammu, Dr Meenakshi Kilam, Director, Directorate of Quality Assurance, Dr Dauood Iqbal Baba, Director, Directorate of Sports & Physical Education, Ranjeet Kalra, Teaching Faculty, HRDC, Dr Vinay Thusoo, Incharge Media and Dr Imran Farooq, Nodal Officer for Amrit Kaal Initiatives. Prof Rai said that it is a matter of pride for the UT of J&K that the University of Jammu has been selected as one of the partners for hosting the Pre-Summit of G-20 Group of countries. The Vice-Chancellor said that in order to promote brotherhood among students and scholars of the various Universities and to build trust and social harmony, being a partner of the G-20 Group, University of Jammu has taken an initiative to organise an Inter-University sports competition for the Chancellor’s Trophy from tomorrow which will culminate on March 17. During the festival, various sports events including Athletics (M&W), Basketball (M&W), Cricket (M), Kabaddi (M&W), Volleyball (M&W) and Table Tennis (M&W) will be organized. Prof Rai said that the event has been named “Sauhard” and is being held under the Chancellor’s initiative “My Youth MY Pride” to promote the concept of NEP 2020. “It is the first time that the students of correspondence education representing the Directorate of Distance and Online Education are participating in this mega event that otherwise remained deprived of participation in the sports competitions,” said the Vice-Chancellor. He further said that a special thrust is being laid on sports infrastructure and facilities. “Worth Rs 40 crore sports complex is also coming up at the Kathua Campus of Jammu University, while Rs 5 crore is sanctioned in the capex budget for augmenting sports structure,” he mentioned. Prof Neelu Rohmetra expressed gratitude to the Institution and stated that it is indeed a welcome step that Distance education students will also take part in such a prestigious event. Dr Daud Iqbal Baba said that six disciplines are to be hosted during the competition in which around 550 athletes are expected to take part from various Universities. Ranjeet Kalra, Teaching Faculty, Human Resource Development Centre delivered a formal vote of thanks whereas Dr Vinay Thusoo, Incharge Media, University of Jammu delivered a welcome address.