Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on 7 October 2026 inaugurated a ₹30.35 crore package of sports infrastructure at the Sher-i-Kashmir Multi Sports Activity Centre (SKMSAC) at Gindun Rajbagh in Srinagar, marking the arrival of Kashmir's first Olympic-sized swimming pool and a dedicated indoor gymnastics hall. The investment is the most significant expansion of competitive sports facilities in the Union Territory in recent years.

What Was Inaugurated

The new complex comprises three distinct facilities. The centrepiece is a ₹19.96 crore, 50 metre × 25 metre, 10-lane Olympic-standard swimming pool fitted with diving platforms at 1, 3 and 5 metres, modern filtration and disinfection systems, changing rooms, storage lockers, and spectator seating for 300 people. A separate ₹5.35 crore all-weather training and toddler pool — solar-heated for year-round use — caters to younger swimmers and winter training. The third component is a ₹5.04 crore indoor gymnastics hall spanning 36 metres × 21 metres with a 10-metre ceiling height, equipped with state-of-the-art gymnastics apparatus.

What the Chief Minister Said

Addressing the gathering, Omar Abdullah underscored the historic nature of the swimming facility. 'Through this facility, we are trying to provide students with new sports milieu. For example, there is an Olympic-sized swimming pool in Kashmir for the first time. Now, there is an arrangement for heating, which will be done through solar energy so that children can practice and train here for 12 months a year,' he said.

On gymnastics, the Chief Minister acknowledged a long-standing infrastructure gap. 'Generally, when we talk about gymnastics in Jammu and Kashmir, we only talk about Jammu. However, our children are interested in it and want to do it in Kashmir. But due to the lack of infrastructure, they could not do it,' he said, adding that the new hall was a step toward rectifying that imbalance.

Why This Matters for Kashmir's Sports Ecosystem

The absence of an Olympic-standard aquatic centre had long forced competitive swimmers from the Valley to relocate or travel for quality training. The solar-heated all-weather design is particularly significant given Kashmir's harsh winters, which previously made year-round aquatic training impossible. Notably, the Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council has already been conducting gymnastics coaching camps and is working towards establishing a dedicated Gymnastics Academy in the region — the new hall provides it a credible home base.

This is part of a broader push under the J&K administration to shift sports development beyond traditional disciplines such as cricket and football and build grassroots pathways toward national and international competitions.

Officials and Attendees Present

The inauguration was attended by Minister for Youth Services and Sports Satish Sharma, Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, Lal Chowk MLA Sheikh Ahsan Ahmed, Hazratbal MLA Salman Sagar, Zadibal MLA Tanvir Sadiq, Additional Chief Secretary to the CM Dheeraj Gupta, and J&K Sports Council Secretary Tazayun Mukhtar Kawoosa, alongside students, athletes, and officials. Live swimming and gymnastics demonstrations by trainees marked the occasion.

What Comes Next

Officials indicated the infrastructure is designed to support competitive swimmers, divers, and gymnasts on pathways to national selection. The administration has signalled that further sports disciplines will be added to the centre over time. With the all-weather heating now in place, winter training cycles — a historic bottleneck — are expected to begin for the upcoming season.