Srinagar, October 17 (Scoop News) – Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah Monday called for enhancing adventure sports activities in the State adding that different events in this category would help to rope in sports lovers and showcase State’s potential universally.
Omar said that three motor rallies have already taken place here and another one is scheduled soon. “This indicates the interest of motorists to travel on challenging routes in Jammu and Kashmir”, he said stressing on organizing of motor cycle rallies also in the State to provide opportunities to bikers to take part in adventure sports.
The Chief Minister was speaking at the prizes giving away ceremony of the 13th Raid-De-Himalaya Motor Sports organized by The Tourism Department and Himalayan Motor Sports Association in collaboration with corporate bodies.
Omar Abdullah said that Valley witnessed a good tourist season this year and more than 10 lakh visitors visited here till date. He expressed the hope that next year’s tourist season will also be successful and asked Tourism Department and organizations like Himalayan Motor Sports Association to play their important role in this regard.
The rally started on 9th of October and concluded here on 17th. The extreme category group of the rally travelled from Shimla to Manali to Leh to Zanskar to Kargil to Srinagar while the adventure group travelled from Shimla to Manali to Dalhousie to Srinagar to Zanskar to Kargil and back to Srinagar.
The trophy in adventure category was lifted by Umesh Rehaja, the first prize in extreme category was given to Pratap Thakur in car category while Suresh Rana received the first prize in 4×4 extreme and in Motor Cycle category Helmut. F won the first prize.
As many as 160 teams including bike riders participated in 9 day ‘Raid’. In extreme category first prize carried Rs. One lakh cash and a trophy and in motor cycle category first prize carried Rs. 50,000 and a trophy.
Minister for Tourism, Nawang Rigzin Jora, Minister of State for Tourism, Nasir Aslam Wani, Commissioner Secretary Tourism, Atal Dullo, Director Tourism, Kashmir, Farooq Ahmad Shah and President Himalayan Motor Sports Association, Vijay Parmar were present on the occasion. The Himalayan Motor Sports Association also presented a cheque of Rs. 10 lakh to the Chief Minister for Ladakh flood hit families.