Indian Kayaking and Canoeing Association (IKCA) water sports coach from France on Sunday completed his three day visit to Kashmir for checking the feasibility of conducting Canoe Slalom events in Kashmir.
Jimy Bercon of France who is water sports coach of Indian national team, was in Kashmir for a three day visit to check the feasibility of conducting Canoe Slalom events in river Sindh and Lidder. After arriving in Srinagar on Thursday, Jimy went to Sonamarg on Friday and Pahalgam on Saturday. He checked various patches for conducting the wild water canoe slalom events in both river Singh (Sonamarg) and river Lidder (Pahalgam).
During his visits to both the places he was accompanied by international water sports coach of Kashmir, Bilquis Mir. During his stay in Kashmir, Jimey also met Water Sports Association of J&K president and MLC Firdous Tak as well as secretary Sports Council Waheed ur Rehman Parra.
As per an association official, Jimey found four to five spots in both the places ideal for conducting the competitions of Canoe Slalom. He will be submitting his report to IKCA.
Wild water Canoe Slalom is possible only in three places in entire India. Himachal Pradesh, Uttrakhand and Kashmir are the only places that are suitable for it. It was part of that process that Jimey was in Kashmir.
“Canoe Slalom is Olympic discipline and IKCA wants to promote and develop it in a big way. As it can’t be held in all the places we invited Jimey to check feasibility of conducting these events in Kashmir. He was happy to see the flow of water in both Singh as well as Lidder. He shortlisted some patches and termed them ideal for the sport,” said Bilquis Mir.
“Jimey is World recognized water sports player turned coach and he said that he will be happy to help develop the sport in Kashmir. After Jimey submits his report to IKCA we will be vouching for hosting national camps in Kashmir. It will be a big thing for us in the development of the sports in Kashmir. Once that process starts we will soon be hosting international competitions,” she added.
The association official said that Firdous Tak and Waheed Ur Rehman Parra also assured the coach of full support.
