Doda/Jammu, February 28 (Scoop News) – The International Rafting Championship organized by the J&K Department of Tourism on Chenab river , concluded in Doda yesterday, Slovakia team won the championship in a tough competition while as Indian Army team ended up with runner ups in a neck to neck fight.
The concluding function was organized in Town Hall Doda, Additional District Development Commissioner Doda, G.N Balwan was the chief guest on the occasion who distributed the prizes among the winner, runner’s up and other participating teams.
ADDC Doda G.N Balwan while speaking on the occasion appreciated the efforts of Tourism Department for promoting and exploring the rich tourism potential of the Chenab region. He asked Tourism department for organizing such events in the region to fully explore the adventure tourism potential in the region especially Pul Doda which has great capacity for water sports activities as Pul- Doda to Chanderkote Baglihar Water reservoir has been declared as water way by the Government.
Balwan said that Chenab river is the symbol of prosperity and growth of the entire Chenab valley which needs to be conserved. He impressed upon the people of the region to avoid throwing of garbage and other waste material in the Chenab river.
Assistant Director Tourism, Tariq Hussain thanked foreign rafting teams for participating in the championship. He said that during the event local youths were oriented in this field so that they will become the rafters and rafting guides in near future and asked the youth of the region to come forward and avail benefits of Schemes of Tourism department and adopt tourism sector as a career prospective.
Tariq appreciated the work done by Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering and Winter Sports team and Chenab Rescue Team for their outstanding contribution in rescue operations during the event. He thanked Joe Alice, Director of Rafting Championship and Competitions and Miss Natali who were the judges of the Championship. He revealed that Rafting Championship was organized in four categories i.e Sprint rafting, Head to Head rafting, Slalom rafting, Down river rafting (Marathon).
International teams from Europe, Australia and Nepal besides home teams of Indian Army, JK Police and rafting teams from Srinagar participated in the championship. The White Water Rafting Association Kashmir technically supported the event and was well appreciated by the participating teams for successful conduct of the championship.
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