Srinagar January 12 (KNS): Waking up early in the morning amid winter chill, travelling 70-kilometres from Magam, hiking for 2-hours upto Mamneth Meadow top in Srinagar just to do SnowShoe running.
This is what Abrar Ahmad of Magam area of Budgam district did on Sunday, January 12 who had come all the way from Magam to Dara Harwan Srinagar to be part of the season opening SnowShoe run held at 7725 feet altitude meadow Mamneth that falls in Srinagar’s Zaberwan range.
Like Abrar, Adil and Khursheed had come all the way from Tangmarg area and had reached early in the morning at Dara Harwan to start a two hour trek from Dara to Mamneth only to be part of the high adventure and high endurance SnowShoe run.
The event was organized by J&K SnowShoe Association to kick off the winter season activities and to send a message that wintersports is possible in Srinagar District as well. Association has previously conducted SnowShoe running events in Srinagar in 2021, and 2022.
Kashmir youth are taking up sport of SnowShoe running which is highly popular in Europe and American Countries in large numbers. During recent times Kashmir youth have shined in the SnowShoe running at both National and International level.
Such is enthusiasm among the local Kashmir youth that, athletes thronged from Tangmarg, and other far flung areas to be part of just a normal snowshoe running event on the mountains of Srinagar on Sunday.
“We had just announced that we are going to have season opening run on Sunday at high latitude Mamneth Meadow in Srinagar that require two hour hike. We never expected that athletes from Tangmarg, Magam, Narbal areas will turn up for the run,” said Dr Altaf ur Rehman former Islamia College Sports Director and J&K SnowShoe Association General Secretary.
“It was really tough day and these sizeable number of elite athletes deserve all the applause. First to reach upto top of Mamneth Meadow was itself an achievement and then participate in two kilometer run on snow wearing SnowShoe is unthinkable level of fitness and endurance shown by these youngsters,” Dr Altaf said.
Dr Altaf said that, it is start of the season and Association has already planned major activities throughout the season before hosting mega National SnowShoe Championship in Sonamarg.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
“It was just to kick off season and we did it from Srinagar District which no one would have thought of. Apart from regular activities, Association in collaboration with SnowShoe Federation of India and Sonamarg Development Authority is going to conduct National SnowShoe Championship in Sonamarg, this Febuary. Though we already hosted first ever wintersport National event in Sonamarg last year, but this time it is going to be bigger and better with the opening of Z-Morh Tunnel to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday. It will give easy access to one all and will add upo to facilities,” he said.
Adil emerged winner in the first run of the season while as Khursheed bagged silver medal and Javed bronze medal. Muzamil Hussain bagged gold medal in second run while as Abrar and Suhail bagged silver and bronze medals respectively.
Competition manager of J&K SnowShoe Association Khan Gulzar said that idea behind conducting SnowShoe race at Maneth Meadow was to send a message that wintersports is possible in Srinagar as well as we have places even in Srinagar city that can be explored for wintersports.
"It was season opener race before we go full throttle for the season. We chose this venue with the aim to send a message that wintersport is possible even in Srinagar. We would like Tourism Department Kashmir to explore the area for such purposes. While Skiing and other wintersport need infrastructure development , SnowShoe require nothing," he said.
"SnowShoe sport is based in and dominated by J&K. Over the years J&K athletes have shined at National and International level in this sports discipline. SnowShoe despite winning medals for J&K isn’t part of Khelo India Winter Games this time which is very sad thing for J&K athletes," he said.
"SnowShoe is a wintersport discipline that can be held anywhere and doesn’t need infrastructure upgrade. Last season in collaboration with Sonamarg Development Authority, Hoteliers Association Sonamarg, the National SnowShoe Championship 2024 was held which was huge success and attracted both national and International media coverage. We are hopeful that this time again Tourism authorities will support us and we will host another mega event," he added.(KNS)