Srinagar, Oct 28: In a first for Jammu and Kashmir, the iconic Dal Lake in Srinagar hosted a historic traditional boat race exclusively for women, drawing 150 participants.
The Jammu and Kashmir Water Sports, Kayaking, and Canoeing Association organized the event, a milestone in local sports and women’s empowerment.
The race saw an impressive turnout, with 75 boats competing in the traditional event. Burhan Bazar, President of the Jammu and Kashmir Rowing and Sculling Association, expressed pride in the event’s success, highlighting the association’s commitment to promoting gender equality and creating opportunities for women in sports.
“For us, this event was more than just entertainment or competition; it was a major talent hunt for future athletes,” Bazar stated, highlighting the barriers women face in participating in sports in the region.
Many women who participated in the race expressed their excitement at the chance to participate in such a unique event for the first time. The organizers expressed optimism that events like this will inspire more women across the Kashmir Valley to get involved in water sports.
Kashmir Valley’s famous athlete and India’s first female Chief Jury at the Paris Olympics, Bilkis Mir, who attended the event, was inspired by the participation, noting that this race allowed young women to step out and showcase their potential. “Seeing so many women participate in a sporting event is remarkable.
“It was a historic day, being the first race of its kind for women. There are always sports events for men, like cricket and other tournaments, but very few for women. This event was unique because these young women stepped out of their homes to participate. It also revealed a lot of new talent, and we discovered promising young athletes through this race. We’re selecting 35 girls to train for national and international competitions,” said Bilkis.
Among the 150 participants, we’ve shortlisted 35 promising females who will receive training for upcoming competitions,” she shared. Mir added that cash prizes were awarded, with the winner receiving INR 15,000, while the second and third-place winners took home INR 10,000 and INR 5,000, respectively.
Participants voiced their excitement, with many sharing that they joined without prior coaching. “It was a joy to be part of this first-ever women’s event in Kashmir. I hope more such opportunities will emerge for women here,” said one participant.
