SRINAGAR: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah yesterday graced the inaugural Khelo India Water Sports Festival at Dal Lake, calling it a “historic occasion that unites the spirit of sports with the breathtaking beauty of Kashmir.”
The festival, hosting over 800 participants, saw the presence of Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports Raksha Nikhil Khadse, Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha, Minister for Youth Services and Sports Satish Sharma, Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, MLA Tanvir Sadiq of Zadibal, along with dignitaries from the Central Government and senior officials of the J&K administration.
Addressing the audience, the Chief Minister highlighted J&K’s long-standing association with Khelo India, noting the Union Territory has hosted the Winter Games in Gulmarg five times. “Khelo India often evokes winter because we’ve grown up playing in the snow. But today, it fills me with pride that Dal Lake is hosting the first-ever Water Sports Festival under the Khelo India banner,” he said.
Referring to Dal Lake as the “identity of Srinagar,” Omar Abdullah praised its role in sustaining generations through livelihoods, leisure, and adventure. He also mentioned the traditions of water skiing and the famed Dal Cross swimming challenge as symbols of Kashmir’s enduring connection with water sports.
Highlighting the importance of sportsmanship, he remarked, “Not everyone may win today, but each participant will leave with the joy of competing, being part of history, and celebrating the true spirit of sports.”
The Chief Minister expressed confidence that the festival would create new opportunities for the youth of J&K and pave the way for many more such events in the Valley.
