The 1st Fateh Cup Football Tournament 2025 was inaugurated with great enthusiasm at the Astro Turf Football Ground, Khel Gaon, Kurbathang, Kargil, on November 9.

The opening ceremony was graced by Dr. Mohd Jaffer Akhoon, Chairman and Chief Executive Councillor (CEC), LAHDC Kargil, as the Chief Guest, while Tahir Hussain Zubdavi, Joint Director, Youth Services and Sports, UT Ladakh, attended as the Guest of Honour.

Organised by the Department of Youth Services and Sports, UT Ladakh, in collaboration with the Kargil Football Association under the aegis of the Ladakh Football Association and supported by the Indian Army, the tournament aims to honour the bravery and supreme sacrifices of soldiers who laid down their lives during the Kargil conflicts of 1948 and 1999.

A total of eight leading football clubs from Kargil are competing in this inaugural edition, marking a major step in promoting football and engaging youth through sports in the region.

Prominent attendees included Issa Khan, Accounts Officer; Anayat Ali, General Secretary, Ladakh Taekwondo Association; Hani Hanifa, President, Kargil Football Association; Abdul Hamid, Mohammad Ibrahim Shoqi, sports officials, players, and local enthusiasts.

In his address, Dr. Mohd Jaffer Akhoon commended the organisers for their initiative and expressed gratitude to the Department of Youth Services and Sports and the Indian Army for their collaboration. He said, “It is a proud moment to channel the spirit of patriotism through sports. The sacrifice of our soldiers is invaluable, and organising such tournaments is a befitting tribute to their memory.”

Dr. Akhoon praised Joint Director Tahir Hussain Zubdavi for his exceptional dedication to sports development in Kargil, calling him an “energetic and visionary officer committed to nurturing young talent.” He further expressed confidence that Kargil’s youth will soon represent Ladakh at national and international levels.

Highlighting the ongoing efforts of LAHDC Kargil, Dr. Akhoon announced that land for new sports infrastructure has been secured and assured continuous institutional support for expanding sporting facilities. He also revealed plans to create a dedicated fund head for the development of sports infrastructure and activities in the district.

Encouraging the players, he said, “Play with energy, discipline, and sportsmanship — a sound body is the sign of a sound mind.”

Joint Director Tahir Hussain Zubdavi thanked the CEC for his encouragement and reiterated that the Fateh Cup is dedicated to the martyrs of Kargil, symbolizing courage, sacrifice, and unity. He added that the tournament will grow into a larger, inter-regional sporting platform in the coming years.

The 1st Fateh Cup Football Tournament 2025 stands as a heartfelt tribute to Kargil’s heroes, blending patriotism with sportsmanship and inspiring the youth to uphold the spirit of unity, courage, and dedication through the beautiful game of football.