Srinagar, Feb 7: On a quiet stretch of Rajbagh in Srinagar, the sharp thud of paint pellets breaking against inflatable bunkers has begun to cut through the routine city noise. Inside a compact arena, young players crouch, signal to teammates and sprint forward, their focus fixed not on phone screens but on the game unfolding around them. Paintball, a sport once unfamiliar in Kashmir, is slowly finding space among the Valley’s youth, offering a new kind of recreation that blends movement, strategy and teamwork.
Launched in 2025 by MBA graduate Tajamul Rasheed, the arena emerged as one such space offering organised, activity-based recreation. The facility has started drawing young participants from different age groups, reflecting an openness among the youth to explore non-mainstream sports that combine physical engagement with strategy.
Paintball is a team-based sport in which players compete by tagging opponents with paint-filled pellets fired from air-powered markers. Popular in Europe, the United States and parts of Asia, the sport requires agility, coordination and quick decision-making. Players must work in teams, plan movements and adapt strategies during play, making it both physically demanding and mentally engaging.
A sports enthusiast, Rasheed said the initiative was driven by his desire to introduce a new sporting activity that had not previously been available in the Valley. “Kashmir’s youth are ready for such sports. They want proper avenues where they can come, play and enjoy in a positive and organised environment,” he said.
He pointed to changing lifestyle patterns among young people, marked by increased screen time and reduced outdoor activity. “A lot of young people spend their free time on smartphones, scrolling through reels and social media. This has made daily routines more sedentary,” Rasheed said, adding that sports like paintball offer a practical alternative to screen-bound leisure.
According to him, the structured nature of the game helps sustain engagement. “Paintball requires focus, planning and coordination. You have to communicate constantly and rely on your teammates, which keeps players actively involved throughout the game,” he said.
While traditional sports continue to dominate Kashmir’s sporting culture, the emergence of alternative activities like paintball reflects evolving interests among the youth.
By: Faria Bhat
