J&K athletes defy odds, grab 4 medals at Water Sports Fest

Athletes from modest backgrounds in Jammu and Kashmir, trained at the Sports Authority of India’s (SAI) water sports centre on Dal Lake, have made their Union Territory proud by clinching four medals at the Khelo India Water Sports Festival (KIWSF) 2025. Their outstanding performance helped Jammu and Kashmir secure seventh place among 28 participating states and Union Territories.

The medal winners include Mohsin Ali , who won gold in K-1 1000-metre men’s kayaking, Sajad Hussain silver in C-2 500-metre canoe slalom, and Muhammad Hussain silver in C-2 500-metre men’s canoeing and bronze in C-1 1000-metre men’s canoeing.

All three athletes come from economically disadvantaged families: Mohsin is the son of a carpenter, Sajad the son of a shikarawala (boatman), and Muhammad the son of a vegetable vendor. Despite financial hardships, their families have supported their passion for water sports—a commitment made possible through training and facilities provided by the SAI’s Nehru Park Centre.

The SAI centre, situated inside Dal Lake, has been instrumental in transforming the lives of these young athletes. Under the mentorship of dedicated coaches, particularly Zulfkar Ali Bhat, the athletes have received comprehensive training and support.

Sajad Hussain, reflecting on his journey, shared that balancing school and training was a challenge, but the encouragement and assistance from coaches made it possible.

“When we used to train in the mornings, our coach Zulfkar Ali Bhat would even drop us to school. We used to change into our uniforms in his car,” he recalled.

Growing up in Mir Bahri, a locality within the interiors of Dal Lake, Sajad noted the difficulty of pursuing an endurance sport like canoeing, which demands a proper diet and consistent training—luxuries his family couldn’t afford.

“After school, I would row a shikara or take up any manual work to support myself and avoid being a burden on my family,” he said.

Muhammad Hussain echoed similar challenges, acknowledging the role of SAI in his progress. “Our financial situation made it impossible to train on our own. The training at SAI’s Nehru Park Centre made all the difference,” he said.

Mohsin Ali, who won the gold, shared how he too contributed to his family’s income by riding a shikara. “Without SAI’s support, winning gold would have been unimaginable,” he said.

Coach Zulfkar Ali Bhat highlighted that most water sports athletes from Jammu and Kashmir come from labour-class families. “None of them are children of bureaucrats or businessmen. Their success is a result of hard work, not privilege,” he said.

He emphasized the importance of long-term planning, especially as India prepares its bid for the 2036 Olympics. “We need a National Centre of Excellence in Srinagar. This would not only benefit local talent around Dal Lake but also attract athletes from across India,” Zulfkar said.

“If we start preparing now, I am confident we will see athletes from Kashmir make India proud at the Asian Games, World Championships, and even the Olympics.”