Kargil Vijay Diwas: Indian Army inaugurates multi-purpose stadium, sports carnival at Garkone Village

Kargil, July 3: In a grand event ahead of the Kargil Vijay Diwas Rajat Jayanti celebrations, the PVC (P) Stadium was inaugurated by Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey along with a sports carnival at Garkone Village in Biamah Sector by the ‘Forever in Operations’ Division on 2nd and 3rd July 2024. The multi-purpose stadium, built to honour the selfless sacrifice and untiring spirit of the Indian Army personnel and community members of the Aryan Valley, includes a basketball court, futsal court, volleyball court, cricket ground, grandstands and dressing rooms.
The inaugural Sports Carnival, which commenced in the second week of June 2024, saw overwhelming participation with over 35 teams in Men’s Futsal, Men’s Volleyball and Women’s Volleyball from the Aryan Valley. The finals of these events were held on 2nd and 3rd July 2024, with the best teams and players being honoured for their achievements.
Lieutenant General Hitesh Bhalla, SC, SM, VSM, General Officer Commanding, Fire and Fury Corps, and Shri Shrikant Balasaheb Suse, IAS, Deputy Commissioner Kargil, were present as guests of honour on 3rd July 2024. Mr. Manmohan Pandey, brother of late Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey, PVC (P), was present as the guest of honour at the inauguration of the stadium, aptly named after his brave brother who laid down his life for the nation in the Khalubar area during the Kargil War of 1999. The inauguration of the stadium took place on the day Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey, PVC (P), sacrificed his life in the defence of the nation.
The recently inaugurated stadium has been handed over to the District Sports Authority for further administration and improvement. The establishment of this stadium, a long-standing demand of the Aryan Valley community, has instilled confidence and inspiration among the youth. By inaugurating the stadium, the Indian Army has reaffirmed the spirit of patriotism and mutual respect among the community members and promoted the essence of ‘Fit India’ in the Aryan Valley.
The event not only commemorated the valor of Captain Manoj Kumar Pandey but also showcased the unity and collective spirit of the Aryan Valley community. It was a celebration of sportsmanship and the enduring legacy of those who serve the nation.
Meanwhile, a 15-member Army team has set a target of setting a world record by undertaking the highest cycling expedition at an average altitude of 15,000 feet to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Indian Army’s victory over Pakistan in the 1999 Kargil War, a defence spokesperson said.
The ‘Rajat Jyanti’ celebrations of Kargil Vijay Diwas are scheduled to take place from July 24 to 26 at Drass in Kargil in the union territory of Ladakh.
In memory of Rajat Jayanti and in honour of the heroes of Kargil War, the Army is conducting the world’s highest cycling expedition, aptly named ‘Ice and Steel Cycling Expedition’. The expedition will cover a distance of around 753 kilometres and will also cross the world’s highest motorable mountain pass at 19,024 feet in Ladakh.
“This expedition aims to set a world record by being the highest cycling expedition at an average altitude of about 15,000 feet. The expedition aims to spread the message of perseverance, sacrifice and the ethos of ‘nation first’ which is the hallmark of the Indian Army,” the defence spokesperson said.
He said the expedition was launched on Monday by Brigadier Vishal Ranjan, Commandant of 33 Daulat Beg Oldie Mountain Brigade (DBO) in Eastern Ladakh. Over the next 15 days, the team will cycle through the challenging and inhospitable terrain of Ladakh to conquer some of the world’s toughest mountain passes.
The team will also brave some of the coldest places in Ladakh and uphold the Army’s values ​​of selfless service, devotion to duty, sacrifice and courage, the spokesperson said.
Before departure, the expedition team paid tribute at the DBO War Memorial, commemorating the brave soldiers of the Sino-Indian War of 1962.
The cyclists will also pay tribute to the war memorials of Galwan and Rezang La and interact with locals and school children at various villages along the way, the spokesperson said.