Kayaking star Bilquis Mir invited to Asian Games

M Aamir Khan

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, July 10

Upbeat over being invited as a judge at the upcoming Asian Games, the Kashmir valley’s kayaking and canoeing star, Bilquis Mir, wants the government to come forward in a big way to promote water sports in the state.

“I got emotional when I came to know that I will be the only sportsperson from the country on the judges’ panel for the water sports events at the Asian Games that will be held in Indonesia next month. It has not been an easy journey for me. My only wish now is that the government should come forward in a big way at the national level to promote water sports as it has been ignored so far,” Mir said while talking to The Tribune.

She is the first woman from the state to coach the national kayaking and canoeing team and also the first Indian woman to be inducted into an international referee panel.

Mir said India could get medals in water sports events at the Olympics if children were groomed at the right age. “During my visit to the European countries like Hungary, I noticed that sports disciplines such as gymnastics and swimming are made compulsory in schools there….we too have to catch them young….if we want medals at the Olympics, we have to introduce water sports at the school level and train children in a professional manner,” she added.

Hailing from the Khanyar area of the summer capital, Mir said she overcame several hurdles as it was not easy for women to excel in sports in the Valley.

“I started kayaking and canoeing way back in 1997 when things were not so easy for girls….and when kayaking was not so popular. In fact, success does not come easy for women at a place like Kashmir. However, the negative approach of people around made me stronger and I will always remain indebted to my mother, who also stood beside me and encouraged me,” she added.

Having trained around 200 girls, Mir said motivating them and their parents was not an easy task. “I have trained over 200 women and 80 per cent of them won medals. However, motivating them and their parents was a big challenge. My aim is to put J&K on the international kayaking map as we have a lot of talent and natural water resources here,” she added.