Srinagar March 4: The 4 daylong National Nordic (Cross-Country) Ski Championship for senior men and women started at Gulmarg on Saturday. Many teams from different parts of the country including J&K, HP, Uttrakhand, Punjab, IIS&M, HAWS, Indian Army, ABVIMAS, ITBP, andJawahar Institute of Mountaineering and Skiing etc. are participating in the Championship. The Winter Games Association of J&K has fielded 7 of its selected athletes who earlier had undergone for a rigorous camp. Nearly 95 skiers from all over the country are participating in this prestigious Championship.
MLA Gulmarg and President Winter Games Association of J&K Mohammad Abbas Wani was the Chief Guest on the inaugural function, who is also Chairman on Organizing Committee. Among others, Col DhillonPrincipal IIS&M, Principal JIM, Olympian NadeemMirza and Olympian Nanak Chand were present on the occasion.
In his address MLA Gulmarg Mohammad Abbas Wani said that by holding such mega sporting events of national importance it would help in reviving winter tourism and also encourage a spirit of such unpopular sports in the state. He further said that such championships carry the message of peace far off places in the country. He thanked God for showering us with enough snow this winter, while all other ski resorts in the country had scant snow fall and they had to cancel their winter sports activities He stressed the needed of holding as many Snow Sports Championships as possible to exploit the potential of winter tourism in the valley. He requested the Sports and Tourism Ministriesof the State to provide sufficient funds for developing winter sports in the state.
On the first day of competition Rameez Ahmad, ShubamPariharof Indian Army and JagdishLal of HAWS bagged first three positions respectively in 15 Kms men race, while in Women 1.2 kmsWomen Sprint Miss Babita of ITBP got first, Miss VikasRana of Haryana got 2nd and and Miss ParvatiKhampa got 3rd position.
On the second day J.6 kms Men Sprint JagdishSingh of HAWS, ShubamParihar and MohamadAslam of Indian Army got first three positions. In 10 Kms Women event Miss BVabita, Miss Parvati and Miss Janki of ITBP got first three positions. The Competitions are being conducted under the overall supervision of two Olympians, NadeemMirza and Nanak Chand.