NEW DELHI: From stumbling upon kayaking by chance to becoming a jury member at the Olympics, Kashmiri trailblazer Bilquis Mir has carved an inspiring path in Indian sports. On Tuesday, she met Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and Minister of State for Sports Raksha Nikhil Khadse to discuss the growth and future of water sports in the country — a moment of pride and recognition for the 38-year-old.
Mir, who served as a jury member for kayaking and canoeing at the 2024 Paris Olympics, briefed the ministers about the progress of water sports in India. “I’ve seen that sportspersons often receive more acknowledgment outside Jammu and Kashmir. This was evident in the respect and attention I received during my meeting with the honourable ministers,” she told reporters.
She added that the Sports Minister encouraged her to prepare a roadmap for developing kayaking and canoeing in India, including building competitive teams. “It was heartening to see the ministry’s keen interest in these water sports, which together offer 16 Olympic medals,” she said.
Her meeting comes ahead of the first-ever Khelo India Water Sports Festival, to be held from August 21 to 23 at Kashmir’s iconic Dal Lake — where Mir’s journey in kayaking began.
After the meeting, Minister Khadse praised Mir’s contributions and called her story “transformational.”
“True champions not only win medals — they elevate others, create new pathways, and show what’s possible when dreams are nurtured,” Khadse said, highlighting Mir’s roles as athlete, coach, and mentor.
Mir’s journey is one of perseverance in the face of adversity. She discovered kayaking accidentally during an outing with a friend, eventually mastering the sport on the waters of Dal Lake at a time when terrorism gripped the region. Between 1998 and 2006, she won over 25 national medals and became the first Kashmiri to represent India at the ICF Sprint World Cup in Hungary, reaching the semifinals — a first for Indian water sports.
In 2012, she served as the national coach for the women’s kayaking and canoeing team at the London Olympics.
“What struck me most was her deep connection with grassroots sports,” Khadse noted. “As Director of Water Sports at Srinagar’s Nehru Park, she has trained over 3,000 athletes, including more than 300 girls. Her trainees have won over 120 national medals, transforming the lakeside centre into a hub of sporting excellence.”
Mir’s journey hasn’t been without hurdles. In 2023, she faced a legal battle after the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) filed an FIR against her, alleging she lacked a mandatory technical qualification for her role as a Physical Education Teacher.
The Jammu and Kashmir High Court recently quashed the FIR, calling it a “witch-hunt” driven by “vested interests.” In a strongly worded judgment, the court criticized the ACB’s actions, stating that targeting a sportsperson who had brought national glory for not acquiring a specific qualification “speaks volumes about how we treat our sporting heroes.”
The court further lamented that instead of honoring excellence, the system was focused on harassing those who deserve recognition.
Now back in Kashmir, Mir says the court ordeal was emotionally taxing but that she remained determined — especially for the sake of the next generation of women athletes.
“I couldn’t allow myself to give up and send the wrong message to young girls looking up to me,” she said.
Her resilience and achievements continue to inspire, reflecting the possibilities that emerge when talent, grit, and institutional support come together.
