Excelsior Sports Correspondent
REASI, Dec 1: To promote adventure tourism in the Jammu region, a 3-day long National White Water River Rafting championship was organized by Tourism Department in collaboration with district administration Reasi. The mega event which was commenced from November 29, 2013 concluded here today.
The Minister for Housing, Horticulture and Culture Raman Bhalla was the chief guest on the concluding day of the event.
Member Legislative Assembly Jugal Kishore Sharma, Director Tourism Soujanya Sharma, Additional Deputy Commissioner S. R. S. Tara, Joint Director Tourism Shiv Gupta, SP Sarief Chouhan besides other senior officers from civil and police administration, a large number of senior citizens of the district were present on the occasion who witnessed the event with great curiosity.
In the 3-day championship, 9 teams and two rescue teams participated which included Reasi district, BSF, JKP, Tourism Department, Ladakh, Rishikesh, White hotel, IAPRO, Eco-Adventure and ITBP. The event culminated at Dera Banda Bahadur.
Addressing a large gathering of sports lovers and locals, the Housing Minister said the Government was keen to promote tourism in the State and exploit vast potential in adventure tourism in a big way.
Mr. Bhalla said it was the first national rafting event aimed at exploring adventure tourism potential in Reasi district. He said large number of unemployed youth of the district would be trained in river rafting skills with the objective that they adopt this as a profession and generate income for livelihood. He informed that Government will construct Adventure Sports Club shortly and also a society of district officers is being constituted for promoting rafting in the district.
The Minister said that massive sports infrastructure has been created across the State to promote the sports culture in the State and groom talent of the youth. He said Government was making all efforts to organize more sports events at district level as it helps to tap the available talent.
Speaking on the occasion, MLC Jugal Kishore Sharma said we have got tremendous potential of adventure sport like rafting, skiing, sliming, trekking and cycling, adding that Tourism Department is doing its bit to promote that all over world.
Later, Mr. Bhalla and Mr. Jugal Kishore Sharma distributed Ist, second and third prizes among the winners. In water marathon category, the BSF bagged first prize of Rs. 10,000, whereas runner up team ITBP got second prize of Rs. 5000.
The Sprout water sports game was won by JKP and were rewarded Rs. 10,000.
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