Tsewang Rigzin
LEH: Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti will flag off the first International Adventure Racing Championship ‘Himalayan Challenge – Ladakh 2016’ on 24th September at Leh.
The three-day championship will include mountain biking, trail running, river rafting river crossing orientation and rope work. The event is being organised by Adventure Racing Federation of India (ARFI) with support from Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Leh and J and K Tourism Department. This was disclosed by former Army Chief General J.J Singh, President of Adventure Racing Federation of India, at a function organised in his honour by the Police Department at Police Post Housing Colony, here on Saturday.
Senior Superintendent of Police Leh T. Gyalpo assured all support to Gen J. J Singh from Police Department to make the event a hassle free and a success. Earlier Gen Singh called on chairman LAHDC, Leh Dr. Sonam Dawa and discussed details about the event. LAHDC has also assured to extend all support to the federation to make the event a success.
“The adventures will race day and night over a 300 kms Course pushing themselves to the ultimate limits of human endurances,” Gen. Singh informed. The champion will be participated by 16 teams of four members each. There will be six international teams one each from America, Argentina, Australia, South Africa, Czech Republic and France and ten teams will be from different parts of the country including two from Ladakh (one women and one men team). There will be another team from J and K State other than Ladakh. The Indian teams will also include MARCOS, ITBP, Special Frontier Force, SSB, BSF and Assam Rifles.
Through this event ARFI is aiming to shift the focus of J and K to Ladakh which constitutes two-third of the State area wise and because of the area being peaceful it is bustling with visitors from across the world, Gen. Singh said adding the Federation is inviting Governor N.N Vohra to attend the concluding ceremony of the event for distribution of prizes on the 27th September.
