In a thrilling finale to the month-long cricket tournament in Mendhar, Young Star Mendhar clinched the title by defeating Bismillah Club Surankote by a narrow margin of 7 runs. The final match, which brought together some of the best cricketing talent from the Poonch district, saw Young Star Mendhar setting a target of 105 runs, which they defended successfully, limiting Bismillah Club Surankote to 98 runs.
The event was graced by Dr. Shazad Malik, Former Vice Chancellor and Chairman of JKBADC, who served as the Chief Guest. In his address, Dr. Malik congratulated the winning team and praised both teams for their spirited performances. He also took the opportunity to appreciate the efforts of the tournament organizers, Mohd Irfan Mir and Sajad Mughal, for their dedication in bringing the cricketing community together.
Dr. Malik emphasized the importance of sports in the lives of young people, urging them to stay active in such positive activities. He expressed concern about the rising threat of drug abuse among the youth and called on them to engage more in sports to channel their energy constructively.
“Sports not only build character and discipline but also keep you away from harmful habits. I urge all young people to involve themselves in sports and stay away from drugs. Our future depends on the choices you make today,” Dr. Malik stated.
The Guest of Honour, Hafiz Tazeem, an eminent entrepreneur from Balakote, also applauded the organizers and encouraged more such events to nurture local talent. The tournament, which featured 18 teams from across the district, has been hailed as a major success in promoting sportsmanship and unity among the youth.
