Jammu and Kashmir impressively showcased their talent at the 10th All India Inter-Sports Authority of India (SAI) Kayaking and Canoeing Championships, concluding today at the National Centre of Excellence (NCOE) in Alleppey. The championship, which spanned over four days, saw Jammu and Kashmir finish fourth overall in the senior category.
With participation from eight SAI centres across India, the event highlighted the country’s best water sports athletes. NCOE Alleppey emerged victorious as overall champions, closely followed by NCOE Bhopal and NCOE Jagatpur.
The athletes from Jammu and Kashmir earned a commendable total of eight medals, comprising two gold, two silver, and four bronze, marking one of their finest outings at a national level.
A standout feature of J&K’s performance was the spectacular achievement of Mohammad Hussain and Sajad Hussain, who clinched double gold in the senior men’s canoe doubles for both the 200m and 500m events. Their triumph adds to their recent accolades from the Khelo India Water Sports Festival held in August at Dal Lake, Srinagar.
The championship in Alleppey gathered 197 athletes, including 92 girls, competing across 96 medal events. Notable SAI centres like Bhopal, Jagatpur, Port Blair, Bilaspur, Roorkee, and EME also showcased their talent.
Officials highlighted that the Khelo India Water Sports Festival, recognized by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his August “Mann Ki Baat” address, has significantly uplifted water sports in the country, encouraging more participants and enthusiasts in this domain.
In terms of performance, NCOE Alleppey dominated by securing 24 golds and 15 silvers across both senior and junior sections. NCOE Bhopal excelled with 11 gold medals in the senior category and achieved the highest medals in the sub-junior section with seven golds, while NCOE Jagatpur ranked among the top three across all categories.
As for the broader context of water sports in India, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and Kerala emerged as the top-performing states during the Khelo India Water Sports Festival, emphasizing the rising prowess of water sports talent nationwide.
