GULMARG: An unassuming 14 year
young boy from the remote village of Gundmanchhar in Lolab, Kashif
Shafi Bhat created history by securing First Position in the Sub Junior,
Giant Slalom event in the Gondola Skiing Championship held on 04 March
12, which was organized by the J&K State
Cable Car Corporation at Gulmarg.
Mr Rajan Habib Khwaza, Secretary of
Tourism (J&K) presented a trophy and a cash award of Rs 15,000/- to
Kasif Shafi, who is a student of standard 9th at Army
Goodwill School Chandigam.
A total of 150 candidates had participated in
the competition, out of which 15 were later shortlisted for the
finals. Two other boys from Lolab, Ishtiyaq Mohd Bhat and Bilal Kamal
Shah, also secured fourth and fifth positions, respectively in the same
event. Also, Khursheed Ahmed Rather of Nutnussa, Kupwara secured fifth
position in the Junior category of the Giant Slalom event. Parents and
families of these boys rejoiced at their performance in their villages
in Lolab, with great enthusiasm and fervour.
The untapped potential of
these boys was identified by the Army under Operation Sadhbhavana and
they are presently being coached by an Olympian Mr Gul Mustafa Dev, a
skier of
international repute at Gulmarg.
Lolab
is a remote valley which lies in frontier district of Kupwara. In
2011, Army as part of Operation Sadhbhavana, had sponsored 30 candidates
from areas of Lolab to undergo Basic, Intermediate and Advance Skiing
Course at IISM, Gulmarg. Four out of these with high potential, were
later shortlisted by IISM Gulmarg, to undergo advanced training to
represent the State at the National and
International events. True to their potential, they performed
creditably and secured good positions at the National Championship held
at Manali in Feb 2012, bringing laurels to the State.
The
outstanding performance of these young boys of Lolab, will be a big
motivating factor for other youth of this remote area to follow
course. Such efforts by the Army are not only engaging the youth in a
meaningful manner, but are also channelizing their thoughts and energies
in the overall development and prosperity of Kashmir and giving a much
needed boost to the State Tourism. Presently, seven young boys of Lolab
are undergoing Advance
Training in Skiing at the Indian Institute of Skiing and Mountaineering
at Gulmarg.
Kashif
Shafi and the other three boys Ishtiyaq Mohd Bhat, Bilal Kamal Shah and
Khursheed Ahmed Rather from Lolab, who excelled at the Gondola Cup were
sponsored by Kilo Force.
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