Excelsior Sports Correspondent
KARGIL, Feb 16: The three-day long Zanskar Winter Sports and Tourism Festival 2023-24 concluded here today at Munskit Chumik Padum, Zanskar amid the enthusiastic participation of a huge public gathering.
The annual festival was organized by Youth Services and Sports, Cultural Academy and Tourism Departments of Kargil, Union Territory of Ladakh at Padum in Zanskar.
Executive Councillor (Rural Development and Panchayati Raj/ Cooperative/FCS&CA/Forest & Wild Life/Information) LAHDC, Kargil, Er Punchok Tashi presided as the chief guest on the occasion while Deputy Commissioner/CEO, LAHDC, Kargil, Shrikant Suse was guest of honour.
Sub Divisional Magistrate Zanskar, Romil Singh Donk, President Zanskar Buddhist Association, Zanskar Gonpa Association, Army officers, Sub Divisional Officers and hundreds of sport and culture enthusiasts gathered to witness the closing ceremony.
The championship match of the Women’s Ice Hockey Tournament featured an intense showdown between the Zanskar Winter Sport Foundation and the Sham Girl Team. Alongside, exhilarating Skate Races were held across different age categories for girls (under-15, under-12, under-10) and boys, under-15).
EC Tashi expressed his gratitude to the organizing committee for organizing the event’s colourful, successful and memorable festival.
He also appreciated the artists of snow sculpture for such a talent in arts and made wonderful statues of snow amid the freezing temperatures. Tashi also informed the gathering that the LAHDC Kargil has already sanctioned Rs 6.12 Crore for the construction of an Indoor Stadium in Zanskar.
Deputy Commissioner/CEO, LAHDC, Kargil, Shrikant Suse lauded the participants for taking part in sports as well as cultural activities. He further informed the gathering about the adjustment made to the festival duration, reducing it from seven days to three days, due to the annual religious observance, the Fasting Puja, at Karsha Monastery.