ibn sultan
Srinagar, Aug 4: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said the Union Territory should reclaim its status as one of India’s premier golf destinations while inaugurating the J&K Open 2026 at the Royal Springs Golf Course in Srinagar.
The Chief Minister announced plans to make the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) event an annual tournament, establish a golf academy to nurture young talent, and upgrade golf infrastructure across Jammu and Kashmir. He said golf tourism is a key part of the government’s strategy to attract high-value visitors and expressed confidence that the tournament would become a permanent feature on India’s golfing calendar.
Omar also highlighted the government’s plans to improve sports infrastructure, including the proposed construction of international-standard cricket stadiums in Jammu and Kashmir, saying such facilities would help the region host IPL and international matches in the future.
Referring to the recent killing of civilians in south Kashmir, the Chief Minister described the incident as “deeply tragic,” stating that no religion permits the killing of innocent people and stressing the need to prevent such attacks.
