Athletes to Compete for 24 Golds at Inaugural Khelo India Water Sports Festival in Srinagar
Over 400 athletes from 36 states and UTs to take part in rowing, canoeing, and kayaking at Dal Lake from August 21.
The Impressive TimesSrinagar (Jammu and Kashmir), August 20 : The inaugural edition of the Khelo India Water Sports Festival (KIWSF) is set to begin at the iconic Dal Lake in Srinagar, with over 400 athletes vying for 24 gold medals across Olympic events in rowing, canoeing, and kayaking.
The three-day festival marks the first consolidated open-age championships where all 14 canoeing and kayaking events, along with 10 rowing events, are part of the Olympic program. Additionally, water skiing, shikhara boat sprints, and dragon boat races will be showcased as demonstration events, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports said in a release.
Athletes from 36 states and Union Territories will compete, with strong contingents from Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Odisha, and Kerala. Services will not participate as a team this year, adding intrigue to the state-level competition. “The course has been prepared to international standards, and we are ready,” said competition manager Bilquis Mir, a former World Cup canoeist and Olympic judge.
The event also features top qualifiers from previous nationals, including rower Arjun Lal Jat, a 2020 Tokyo Olympian and 2022 Asian Games silver medallist, representing Delhi. Of the 409 participants, 202 are women, ensuring near-equal representation.
Three kayaking and canoeing gold medals will be decided on the opening day, while all 10 rowing finals are scheduled for the last day. Union Minister of State Raksha Khadse will attend the opening ceremony alongside J&K dignitaries.
The KIWSF is the second Khelo India event in Jammu and Kashmir after the Khelo India Winter Games in Gulmarg. As part of the Khelo Bharat Niti, the water and beach games (introduced in 2025) aim to promote grassroots sports while boosting tourism.
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