AUG 22: Lieutenant Governor Shri Manoj Sinha inaugurated the much-awaited Khelo India Water Sports Festival at the iconic Dal Lake in Srinagar, marking a new milestone in the Union Territory’s sports and tourism journey.
The mega national event has brought together 800 athletes from 28 States and Union Territories, who will compete in a series of rowing, kayaking, and canoeing events. With Dal Lake’s breathtaking landscape serving as the venue, the festival aims to project Jammu & Kashmir as the “Water Sports Capital of India.”
Speaking on the occasion, LG Manoj Sinha emphasized that the successful hosting of this national-level competition reflects the new atmosphere of peace, normalcy, and progress in J&K. He highlighted that the event not only showcases the region’s immense sporting potential but also symbolizes the aspirations of its youth and the government’s commitment to creating world-class sports infrastructure.
The Lieutenant Governor noted that while winter sports such as skiing have already positioned Kashmir as a leading destination for adventure enthusiasts, the promotion of water sports will diversify tourism offerings. This, he added, will attract visitors during the summer season, thereby providing a significant boost to the local economy through increased tourism-related activities and employment opportunities.
The festival is also being viewed as a platform to nurture young sporting talent from the region and provide them exposure to compete at national and international levels. With the support of the Khelo India initiative, the Union Territory is witnessing a rapid transformation in the sports ecosystem, with more infrastructure projects and training programs in the pipeline.
The enthusiastic participation of athletes from across the country at Dal Lake sends out a powerful message of unity and the growing prominence of Jammu & Kashmir as a hub for national and international sporting events.
