*Discusses possibility of scaling up water sports activities in JK
Excelsior Sports Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 4: Secretary General, Rowing Federation of India (RFI), Girish J Phadnis today called on Principal Secretary, Industries and Commerce Department Navin K. Choudhary to discuss the possibility of scaling up water sports activities in Jammu and Kashmir.
The meeting was also attended by Secretary J&K State Sports Council Naseem Javaid Choudhary, and Secretary of the Association Bilquis Mir.
Principal Secretary who is also the President of J&K Association for Rowing & Sculling, on the occasion underscored the huge water sports potential in Jammu and Kashmir in view of large number of big water bodies like, Dal lake, Nageen lake, Mansbal lake, Wullar lake, Pyongong and Tsomoriri lakes in Ladakh, Mansar lake, Surinsar lake, Ranjeet Sagar dam and Baglihar lake in Jammu. He emphasised that with the building of infrastructure and training facilities, boys and girls of Jammu and Kashmir will be winning national and international medals within a period of two years.
During the interaction, it was informed that the tender process for procurement of world-class boats for rowing and kayaking is underway and will be made available by November, 2019. Navin Choudhary directed the Secretary of the Association for follow up for timely delivery of these equipments.
On the occasion, Secretary General, Rowing Federation of India also asked for Indoor Rowing and for building a team for which a minimum of twelve Ergo Meters will be required at a cost of Rs.20.00 lakh. Immediately on the request made by Choudhary, two noted industrialists of Kashmir Altaf Bukhari and Shahid Kamili donated Rs.5 lakh each to meet half of the requirement.
Navin Choudhary assured that he will approach other industrialists to meet the balance requirement of Rs 10.00 lakh to have the world class equipment for Rowing Team.
Meanwhile, a group of six players (boys and girls) also met the President and expressed happiness on enhanced training facilities and upcoming world class equipment to them. They assured Navin Choudhary that with these facilities upcoming they will be able to achieve the desired results in terms of medals for the State by next year. They also informed the President that they will be participating in the National championship being held in Bihar this year in September, 2019.
During the meeting it was decided that J&K will host Northern championship in the last quarter of 2019 and will bid to host National championship in Jammu and Kashmir in 2020.
Choudhary also asked the Association to create more awareness about the water sports. On the part of Association, he assured the players to provide international standard equipment and training facilities and hoped that the talented boys and girls of Jammu and Kashmir will bring laurels to the State by winning medals and also be able to get selected in National team for international championships.
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