Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 26: Director Tourism, Jammu R K Varma inaugurated the 4th Junior North Zone Sport Climbing Championship for boys and girls at Sprawling Buds School, Chinore, Jammu in the presence of the presiding guest, Ashwani Sharma, former MLA and guests of honour S. Bhattacharjee, Chairman Indian Mountaineering Foundation North Zone Committee, New Delhi; Prof. Lalit Magotra, an eminent scientist and a writer; Shiv Kumar Sharma, Jt. Secretary, J&K State Sports Council, Sanjeet Khajuria, Assistant Director, Doordarshan Kendra, Jammu and S K Attri, Deputy Director Tourism, Jammu.
Over 200 climbers from Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Uttrakhand besides the host J&K are participating in the 2-day championship
Meanwhile, 9 climbers led by Shivpreet of Punjab, Shilpa and Shivani Charak of J&K who topped the 40ft high artificial climbing wall have entered the final round in lead climbing in the Junior Girls category.
Similarly, 8 girls led by a national climber Asma Gul of J&K have entered the final round in the sub junior category. Competitions in lead climbing in the Junior Boys category were in progress. The finals of lead climbing along with speed competitions in both the category of Boys and Girls shall be conducted tomorrow.
The championship carries a total prize money of Rs.40000/-only which shall be distributed equally between boys and girls.
While addressing the climbers the Chief Guest Sh. R K Varma lauded the achievements and efforts of the Association for the promotion of adventure activities in the state.
“The Association must reach the rural areas to explore the real talent and promote them to the highest level ,” he emphasized.
While Mitra Ghosh, a national Judge in Sport Climbing is the President of Jury of the competition, Paras Verma, a national Route Setter heads the team of experienced route Setters and Belayers of the competition.
The national technical officials are being assisted by local technical officials and senior climbers. The Chairman IMF North Zone Committee, S Bhattacharjee is personally overseeing all the technical aspects and facilities being provided to the participants and officials.
Prominent among others present on the occasion included Everester Ram Singh Slathia, Dr.C.K Khajuria, a former General Secretary of the Association, Directors of Sprawling Buds School Rahul Sharma, Ramesh Khajuri and Arti Sharma, Members of the mountaineering Association of J&K Shawetica Khajuria, Sushil Singh, Navneet Gupta, Principal of Haji Public School, Doda, Haji Sabba and Syed Abdul Mohsin of Pulwama.
The 2-day Championship is being organized by Mountaineering Association of J&K under the aegis of Indian Mountaineering Foundation North Zone Committee and sponsored by J&K State Sports Council.
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