Sports Reporter
SRINAGAR: The four-day long National Nordic Ski (men and women) Championship started here at famous Ski resort Gulmarg on Wednesday. The championship was inaugurated by Commandant High Altitude Warfare School in the presence of President Winter Games Federation of India (WGFI), Col J.S Dhillon.
The athletes representing different affiliated units of WGFI, including J and K, Punjab, Delhi, HAWS and Army are taking part in the championship. J and K contingent included two female skiers, Sana Mir and Nighat Sofi and nine male skiers, Bilal Ganei, Bilal Sheikh, Syed Qasim, Hilal Ahmad, Faizan Maqbool, Tahir Ahmad, Syed Ishfaq, Chandanpal Singh and Daim Shah, a handout issued here on Wednesday informed.
The events for the competition are 5 kms and 10 Kms for women and 10 Kms, 15 Kms, 30 kms and 1.4/1.6 kms for men. The championship is organised by WGFI in association with HAWS, Winter Games Association of J and K, Tourism Department and Indian Institute of Skiing and Mountaineering.
Meanwhile, the Winter Games Association of J and K is all set to host the National Junior Alpine Ski Championship to be held at Gulmarg from 10th to 15th April and State Winter Games from 1st to 3rd April. The Association has already selected the state contingent comprising of 39 skiers for nationals. The competitions will be held in four different age groups. The selected skiers have been advised to contact the WGAJK immediately. Holding championships in late March and April will help to prolong skiing season at Gulmarg said Muhammad Yusuf, General Secretary WGAJK.
He further said that we have enough snow at Kongdori and the snow condition during morning hours remain better.