"Physical activities are imperative for developing a sound body and sound mind," Slathia said at the concluding function of the two-day Body Building Championship, held at Police Auditorium, here today.
The minister assured the players that the government is keen to provide all the basic facilities to enable them to compete at national and international level.
The function was organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Body Builders Association (J&KBBA) in collaboration with Indian Body Builders Association under the aegis of Union Ministry of Youth Services and Sports.
As many as 120 athletes and body builders from states like including J & K, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Utter Pradesh, Delhi, Uttaranchal and Rajasthan took part in the championship.
The minister congratulated the BBA of J&K for organising the event in Jammu after a gap of about four years.
The championship was last held in the state in 2008.
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Slathia said that it was encouraging that the youth of the state have started to take up sports not only as career option but as a hobby too, adding that the government has already reserved a fixed quota in professional trainings to drive youth towards sports.
He said the coalition government under the leadership of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah have accorded priority to sports promotion in the state.