Martial art players frightened, seek security for Kashmir Championship

Srinagar

The Jammu and Kashmir have lost the opportunity to host the Asian Martial Arts Games in October this year after the world body has expressed reservations due to security reasons.

Representational picture

Media outlet Indian Express has quoted the spokesperson of J&K state KiAiDo Association and an organiser of the event saying “In a huge loss to Jammu and Kashmir, the Asian Martial Arts Games 2018, which were scheduled to be held in October in the valley, have been cancelled by the world body citing security reasons.”

The spokesman said state association has been informed by the National Martial Arts Committee (NMAC) – India that the World Martial Arts Games Committee (WMAGC) has decided not to host the event in Kashmir valley after some of the Asian member countries, besides observers from the WMAGC, have expressed concern about the security situation.

“The organisers were informed that some Asian countries, besides game observers, mostly from Germany, UK and the US, have refused to travel to J&K following travel advisories issued by their respective governments,” he said.

The spokesperson added that NMAC-India has written a letter to J&K state KiAiDo Association that “keeping the views from WMAGC, we have decided to withdraw the proposal of hosting the prestigious Asian Martial Arts Games from J&K”.

However, NMAC said it is open to hosting its regional and National Games in J&K in near future. The spokesperson said NMAC-India will now decide a new venue for holding the event.

When contacted Waheed-ur- Rehman Para, the youth president and secretary sports council of Jammu and Kashmir he said that these are open championships and NMAC can approach us anytime they want.

“If the NMAC thinks that they feel insecure here in Kashmir they can officially write us a letter and we will surely make an arrangement for all of them,” para said.

“More ever there are several national organisations representing martial arts and most of them are unrecognised,” he added.

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