Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded 18-year-old Mohsin Ali from Srinagar for his gold medal win in the 1,000m kayaking event at the inaugural Khelo India Water Sports Festival (KIWSF), held from August 21-23 at Dal Lake. During the 125th episode of his Mann Ki Baat radio programme, Modi highlighted Ali’s achievement as a testament to Jammu and Kashmir’s burgeoning sporting potential, alongside the region’s first day-night cricket match in Pulwama.

The KIWSF, a joint initiative by the Jammu and Kashmir government and the Sports Authority of India, saw over 800 athletes from 28 states and Union Territories compete in rowing, canoeing, kayaking, water skiing, shikara racing, and dragon boat racing, with near-equal participation from female athletes.

Mohsin Ali, a 12th-standard student at SP Higher Secondary School, clinched the first gold medal of the KIWSF, clocking 4:12.717 in the men’s K-1 1000m kayaking event, outpacing competitors like Odisha’s Naoram James Singh. The son of a labourer supporting a family of seven, Ali rows a shikara on Dal Lake to fund his training, inspired by his father and coach Bilquis Mir, a former international canoeist and the first Indian woman to serve as a jury member at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Modi praised Ali’s family and Mir, noting, “When the son of a labourer’s family dreams so big, it means the country is going to progress a lot.” Ali’s victory has sparked renewed interest in water sports in J&K, with 80 youths enrolling in training programs post-festival, according to Mir.

The Prime Minister’s recognition has elevated Ali to a local hero, with his Olympic aspirations resonating widely. “I was thrilled to speak to the prime minister. His words will work as an encouragement not only for me but for the youth in general,” Ali told PTI. Modi also commended the KIWSF for promoting water sports in J&K, calling Dal Lake a “special place” for such an event.

Additionally, he highlighted the Royal Premier League in Pulwama, a cricket tournament aimed at engaging youth amid rising unemployment and drug issues, with organizer Irfan Ahmad expressing gratitude for the PM’s acknowledgment and inviting him to the tournament’s final match in September. Ali’s triumph and Modi’s endorsement underscore J&K’s growing role as a sporting hub, blending athletic excellence with cultural and ecological significance.

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