Srinagar: The ski resort of Gulmarg on Sunday hostel first major Winter Sports event of the season as the 8th J&K SnowShoe Championship was conducted by J&K SnowShoe Association under the auspices of SnowShoe Federation of India and in collaboration with Department of Tourism Kashmir.
In the event competition of both Male and Female sections in senior and junior categories were held.
Over 260 athletes from all over J&K representing various districts, clubs participated in the event. The competition witnessed major participation from Green Valley Educational Institute, Kashmir Harvard Educational Institute, Tyndale Biscoe and Mallinson, Delhi Public School Budgam in junior categories.
The event was flagged off by President J&K SnowShoe Association Tariq Ahmad Zargar and Principal DPS Budgam.
At the prize distribution ceremony Vice President World SnowShoe Federation (WSSF) Mir Muddasir was the chief guest and distributed prizes amoung the winners.
He hailed event as one of the best to have been held in Gulmarg with such a mass participation.
“To begin winter season with such a big event is great for the winter sports. I wasn’t expecting so much crowd of athletes but it is good to see SnowShoe getting popular in J&K and India,” Muddasir said.
Muddasir said that Tourism department plays an important role in the development of SnowShoe sports in J&K.
“SnowShoe is the activity that doesn’t require any special infrastructure and facility. It can be held all over J&K and only need few inches of snow. Tourism has been supporting it since begining and we are hopeful they will continue that,” he added.
In senior men category, Adil Fayaz of Srinagar emerged out as winner while as Adil Ahmed of Tangmarg bagged second place. Abrar Ahmed of Budgam bagged third place. In senior women category, National gold medallist , Sara of Srinagar cruised to victory while as Toiba Yousuf of Budgam bagged second place. Rutba Altaf of Budgam bagged third place.
In Junior boys category, Faizan Rafique of Budgam bagged first place while as Shahnawaz of Srinagar bagged second. Umar Bashir of Tangmarg finished third.
In the junior girls category, Shaista Mehraj of Budgam, Madeeha of Srinagar and Arbeena of Budgam bagged first three positions respectively.
Gulmarg witnesses season’s first major SnowShoe Championship
