Srinagar: Jammu & Kashmir will host the 10th National SnowShoe Championship 2026, with premier winter destinations Sonamarg and Gulmarg selected as the opening and closing venues respectively. The announcement marks a significant step toward strengthening winter sports and boosting adventure tourism across the Kashmir Valley.
The decision was taken during a high-level meeting chaired by Director Tourism Kashmir, Syed Qamar Sajad, with the Jammu & Kashmir SnowShoe Association, to review preparations for SnowShoe running events during the upcoming winter season.
The J&K SnowShoe Association delegation was led by President Tariq Ghani, accompanied by General Secretary Dr. Altaf ur Rehman and Senior Member Reyaz Wani. The meeting was attended by senior tourism and sports officials, including Joint Director Tourism Waseem Raja, General Manager J&K Cable Car Corporation Reyaz Malik, Deputy Director Tourism Recreation Sheikh Enayatullah , Assistant Director Tourism Gulmarg Tahir Wani, Assistant Director Tourism Recreation Mudasir Tak, and noted adventure tourism and winter sports expert Rauf Tramboo.
During the meeting, Tariq Ghani highlighted the immense potential of SnowShoe running as a low-cost, high-impact winter sport, emphasizing that it requires minimal infrastructure and can be organized even with limited snowfall. He noted that the sport can play a key role in reviving winter tourism and expanding sporting activities to new destinations across Kashmir.
Ghani informed the gathering that the SnowShoe Federation of India has officially awarded hosting rights of the 10th National SnowShoe Championship 2026 to Jammu & Kashmir, and sought comprehensive support from the Tourism Department for the successful conduct of the championship and allied winter events. He assured full technical and organizational cooperation from the J&K SnowShoe Association.
While reviewing the proposed plan, Director Tourism Syed Qamar Sajad announced that the inauguration ceremony will be held at Sonamarg, while the closing ceremony will take place at Gulmarg, ensuring a grand and high-visibility national event. He directed concerned departments to initiate preparations immediately and to formulate a comprehensive winter sports calendar.
The Director further stated that the Tourism Department will organize SnowShoe events at Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Dodapathri, Yousmarg, and Sonamarg, and will also explore lesser-known destinations to promote winter sports and distribute tourism benefits more evenly across the region.
Welcoming Syed Qamar Sajad on assuming charge as Director Tourism Kashmir, Tariq Ghani expressed confidence in his leadership, stating that his passion for sports and adventure tourism would play a crucial role in revitalizing both sectors in Jammu & Kashmir.
On the occasion, Rauf Tramboo emphasized that SnowShoe running is an essential component of the winter sports ecosystem and has the potential to emerge as a mainstream winter sport due to its affordability and accessibility. He assured full support from the Winter Sports Association of J&K for the successful execution of the championship and related events.
The hosting of the 10th National SnowShoe Championship 2026 is expected to significantly enhance winter tourism in Kashmir, create new opportunities for local athletes, and provide economic benefits to communities in snow-bound regions.
