The junior snowshoe championship was conducted by Snowshoe Federation of India (SSFI) at ski resort of Gulmarg on Sunday.
In the championship that was supported by J&K Tourism and was sponsored by Mushtaq Group of Hotels and J&K Cable Car Corporation more than 50 participants from Burn Hall, Kashmir Harvard, Green Valley and Springs Buds Ompora participated. It was first time that an all junior event in SnowShoe sport was held in J&K.
The competitions were held in two categories of boys and were held in Gulmarg bowl in front of large number of local and outside tourists.
The event were flagged off jointly by Assistant Director Tourism Gulmarg Nasir Ahmad and Sports Promoter Arif Laigaroo in presence of International cyclist Akber Khan and Internal SnowShoe athlete Gulzar Khan.
In the junior 400 metre sprint category, Athar of Kashmir Harvard emerged as winner while as Arsalan of Springs Buds School Ompora bagged second place and Arsalan of Kashmir Harvard finished third.
In the 800-metre category, Basharat of Burn Hall emerged as winner while as Aadil of Spring Buds and Aasim of Burn Hall bagged second and third positions respectively.
Later the prize distribution ceremony was held in which Assistant Director Tourism Gulmarg Nasir Ahmad and Sports Promoter Arif Laigaroo were present alongwith with other dignitaries. They distributed the prizes among the winners and also distributed certificates among the students.
Speaking on the occasion Arif Laigaroo said that main aim of the event was to highlight snowshoe sports and activity among the young students of State.
“It is first step in the direction of introducing SnowShoe sport among the students and in future and it will help this activity to grow many folds in the State. The young athletes exhibited great enthusiasm and interests in this activity which is encouraging,” Arif said.
President SSFI Mir Muddasar said that SSFI is planning many events in coming time and it is just beginning.
“SSFI has been trying to develop the SnowShoe sports and activity from around last four years. The lack of equipment was initially a big trouble but now we have some equipment that is helping in the effort. SnowShoe activity has got huge potential in our State and the States in India were snowfall happens,” he said.
Chairman Mushtaq Group of Hotels, Mushtaq Ahmad Chaya who couldn’t attend the event personally said that such events as big help in the promotion of tourism in State.