The open selection trials of the J&K players for the upcoming 2nd Khelo India National Winter Games-2021 was held in Gulmarg on Wednesday, Febuary 4.The trials were conducted by J&K SnowShoe Association (JKSSA) under the auspices of SnowShoe Federation of India (SSFI) with equipment support from Directorate of Tourism Kashmir .The trials were held in order to select the players from hosts J&K for the second Khelo India National Winter Games that are scheduled to be held in Gulmarg from Febuary 19 to 25.
In SnowShoe , athletes from J&K are going to be joined by athletes from 11 States from outside J&K.The trials were held in Junior, Senior categories in both male and female sections.Principal Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering Col. I S Thapa , SSFI President Mir Mudassir , DSP Tangmarg Halil Khaliq , SSFI Vice President Mushtaq Bashir, Olympian Gul Mustafa , JKSSA President Tariq Zargar , JKSSA Vice President Hinan Bhat, JKSSA Joint Secretary Khan Gulzar were amoung others present on the occasion and monitored the trial process.
Speaking on the occasion SSFI President Mir Mudassir said that he is glad to see J&K players coming out in large numbers to participate in the selection process .”Despite bad weather and continuing snowfall, large number of athletes travelled to Gulmarg from various parts of J&K to participate in the open selection trials . It shows the competition in the SnowShoe descipline is tight and each and every athlete wants to compete at highest level,” Mir Mudassir said.
“This is good for SnowShoe sport which is growing day by day and is known as fastest growing winter sport in the World. Even in J&K it is growing fast and J&K SnowShoe athletes have even shined at World stage. I hope that , these athlets also shine in Khelo India Winter Games in which athlets from 11 other States , Union Territories would be competing,” SSFI President said.In the Khelo India National Winter Games events of Skiing , SnowBoarding, SnowShoe, Ski Mountaineering, Ice Skating, Ice Hockey and Ice Stock would be held.
