Chasing their passion for water sport valley girls excel in canoeing

Enticed towards unique sports and career choices, girls in valley are chasing their passion for water sports such as canoeing which has of-late emerged as one of the choicest water sports among girls in valley.
Canoeing, also known as canoe, is an old water sport where one gets into a little boat made for the sport called a canoe and using a single-bladed paddle to steer the canoe, tries to travel down a stream of a river. The rider stands on the Knees of the canoe and uses their body weight and balance to control its movements, performing a variety of tricks and maneuvers along the way. It requires a great deal of strength, balance, and agility, as well as a deep understanding of the physics of water.
Mehak Peer, a rising star in the world of water sports, has been making waves in the canoeing sport with her incredible skill and dedication. Born and raised in the Nehru Park area of Srinagar, Peer grew up surrounded by water and has been drawn to water sports from a young age. Now, at 26 years old, she has become one of the top canoeing athletes in the Valley.
Mehak Peer first discovered canoeing when she was just 20 years old and instantly fell in love with the sport. She began practicing every day, honing her skills and pushing herself to new heights. Despite facing some initial challenges, such as finding a suitable canoe and training on choppy waters, she never gave up.
How Mehak got interested into the game goes back to her childhood when she along with her way to home was seeing youth practising into the waters. “It was my everyday sight to see young boys and girls playing this game.”
Her hard work and dedication paid off when she was invited to participate in the state level championship in 2015. Competing against athletes from all over the districts, Mehak Peer showed off her incredible talent and took home the gold medal and also qualified for National Level. She became an instant sensation in the canoeing community, earning praise for her flawless technique and innovative tricks.
Since then, Mehak has continued to dominate the canoeing scene, competing in events all over the state and winning numerous titles and awards. She has become a role model for young girls around and beyond, inspiring them to pursue their dreams and break down gender barriers in sports.
Then she played Nationals in Bhopal in September 2015 where she got the bronze medal. “This event was not just about awards but it exposed me to the game at a larger platform,” Mehak Peer said.
Then she played another national in the year 2016 at Fateh Sagar Lake Udipur Rajasthan where she got gold medal. In the next year, she again played nationals in Indore. “I stood first and got a gold medal there.”
Also, she stood first in the Jashn Dal competition organised by Jammu and Kashmir police in the year 2017 and got gold medal. “It was a 1000-meter race,” Mehak said.
But Mehak Peer credits her success to coach Bilkees Mir. She said that it was her handholding and support at the crucial time that I am doing well in the water sports.
She further said that she got many more gold medals in state level events. “This sport needs endurance as it is very tough from other games as we have to play it on our knees.”
Apart from Canoeing, Mehak is a good swimmer too.” Water sports run in my blood. How can you imagine a girl who loves water sports and lives by the side of such a serene water body will not be knowing the swimming.”
Mehak is also training girls in her group to swim. “Every year I train young boys and girls here in Dal Lake. I believe that at least our youth should know the basics of swimming given the high rise of drowning cases.
According to Mehak Peer, she got offers from different institutions to train their students but she refused for some reasons better known to her.
In addition to her athletic achievements, Peer has also been recognized for her activism and advocacy work. She is passionate about using her platform to raise awareness about environmental issues and the importance of water conservation.
Despite her success, Peer remains humble and grounded, constantly pushing herself to improve and learn new skills. She credits her family and coaches for their unwavering support and encouragement, and she hopes to inspire others to follow their passions and never give up on their dreams.
Pertinent to mention here that there are almost more than 100 girls as of now who are in different games of water sport. According to Bilkees Mir, Chairperson of Indian Kayaking, the Canyoning Federation water sport is getting popular day by day and in coming years this game will be female dominated.
“Girls should come forward and should fearlessly achieve their goals,” bilquees Mir said. We need to give them aggressive push and there are almost 10 plus games that are played by the girls in water sport, she added.
Shazia Jan, a 25-year-old resident of Rainawari, is another one who is into the water sports. Jan started her journey in sports back in 2014 when she was introduced to kayaking by a friend. Since then, she has competed in all three formats of kayaking, K1, K2, and K4.
Shazia’s journey started with swimming and balancing, but her hard work and dedication paid off when she won a silver medal in the 2017 State Championship.
“I used to go to this water sports facility every day after finishing my school. I used to practice for hours together there,”Shazia Jan said.
Shazia used to practice under the guidance of Coach Bilkees Mir at the water sports facility in Nehru Park. Initially, her parents were reluctant to let her pursue sports, but her mother supported her after she became aware of her daughter’s passion for the game. Jan even managed to convince her father to come to the water sports facility and witness her training, which helped him understand her love for the sport.
Shazia Jan’s hard work and determination led her to win a gold medal in the 2014 Dragon boat race held at Dal Lake. In the 2015 Nationals at Bhopal, she won a silver medal in K4 and a bronze medal in K2. In 2016, she participated in another National in Hyderabad and won a bronze medal in K4. The following year, she won a gold medal in the 200-meter race, a silver medal in the 500-meter race, and a bronze medal in the 1000-meter race in the MP Championship.
After taking a break in 2019 to focus on her studies, Shazia Jan is now more determined than ever to represent her country at the international level. She believes that sports can be an excellent platform for girls to showcase their talent and abilities and wants to encourage more parents to support their daughters’ dreams.
Shazia’s success story serves as an inspiration to young girls in Kashmir and beyond. She hopes that her achievements will encourage more girls to come forward and take up sports. Her determination and passion for the sport have brought her success and recognition, and she hopes to continue achieving her goals in the future. “I want more girls into the sports.”