Olympian shooter and Army Subedar Chain Singh has defended the Jammu and Kashmir Government’s sports quota recruitment list, describing it as transparent, merit-based, and aimed at securing the future of athletes in the Union Territory.
Chain Singh, who topped the selection list with 89 merit points and was selected for a gazetted post, said the final list was prepared strictly on merit under the provisions of the J&K Sports Policy.
Calling the protests against the list “unfortunate,” the Olympian said people without a sports background or proper understanding of the selection process were spreading misinformation. He urged that sports should be kept away from politics and appealed to critics to first study the J&K Sports Policy and S.O.-12 before making allegations.
Reflecting on his own journey, Chain Singh said earning the honour of representing India took 12 to 15 years of dedication and hard work. He also condemned attempts to target officials involved in the recruitment process, saying such actions were unfair to deserving athletes.
He thanked Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Sports Minister Satish Sharma, and the selection committee for preparing what he described as a fair and transparent list. He appealed to all sections of society to support the initiative, saying it would strengthen the future of sportspersons in Jammu and Kashmir.
Meanwhile, the recruitment process continues to face opposition. Former athletes, members of the Bar Association of Jammu, and civil society groups have alleged irregularities, favouritism, and conflict of interest in the selection process. They have demanded a review of the final list, insisting that government jobs should be awarded strictly on merit.
The controversy follows the release of the final sports quota recruitment list on June 10. Earlier, the Department of Youth Services and Sports had received over 200 objections from around 95 applicants and non-applicants after publishing the provisional list in February. (AGENCIES)
