The inaugural Khelo India Water Sports Festival (KIWSF), set to take place from August 21 to 23, 2025, at Srinagar’s iconic Dal Lake, has sparked excitement among Jammu and Kashmir’s athletes, who are poised to compete for national glory. Organized by the Sports Authority of India and the Jammu & Kashmir Sports Council, the event will feature over 400 athletes from 36 states and Union Territories, vying for medals in three disciplines: rowing, canoeing, and kayaking. The festival, part of the Khelo India initiative to promote grassroots sports, also includes demonstration events like water skiing, shikara racing, and dragon boat racing, aiming to elevate Dal Lake as a water sports hub.
Jammu and Kashmir’s 17-member contingent, prepared through a rigorous 21-day training camp, is led by athletes like Muhammad Abbas Kand from Rainawari, Srinagar, who is targeting gold in the lightweight rowing doubles. Abbas, a veteran of seven national events and holder of nine state and district medals, expressed enthusiasm, stating, “I am hopeful of fetching a gold medal for Jammu and Kashmir. The Games at Dal Lake will boost water sports in the region.” Similarly, Irtiza Ali, a bronze medalist from the 43rd Junior National Rowing Championships, and Muntazir Ali are gearing up for the rowing pairs event, aiming to surpass their previous performances with the advantage of home support.
Other standout athletes include Zahid Hussain, a national bronze medalist with 25 state and district accolades, who will compete in canoe slalom. Trained under coaches Parvez Ahmad Shagu and Waseem Raja, the J&K team sees the festival as a platform to learn from India’s best and showcase their skills. Bilquis Mir, a renowned kayaking and canoeing Olympic judge, hailed the event as “the beginning of a new era for water sports in our country,” emphasizing its potential to inspire young athletes. With the Himalayan Kingfisher as its mascot, the KIWSF not only promises fierce competition but also aims to promote Kashmir’s cultural and tourism legacy on a national stage.
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