Ganderbal, July 18: The Wullar-Manasbal Development Authority (WMDA) on Saturday organised a day-long Water Sports Festival at the scenic Manasbal Lake in Ganderbal district, bringing together around 150 students from different schools to promote water sports, eco-tourism and outdoor recreational activities among the youth.
The festival featured a range of competitions and demonstrations, including canoeing, kayaking, open water races and other water-based sporting events. Students from various educational institutions participated enthusiastically, making the event a vibrant celebration of adventure sports and environmental awareness. The programme was organised in collaboration with an NGO working in the field of youth development and community engagement.
Speaking to reporters, WMDA Chief Executive Officer Dr. Ahsan-ul-Haq Chishti said the event was aimed at creating awareness and generating interest in water sports among school children. He said participants from different schools were given an opportunity to experience and compete in multiple water sports disciplines in a safe and organised environment.
He said Manasbal Lake, known as the deepest freshwater lake in Kashmir, offers immense potential for water-based recreational and adventure tourism. He added that WMDA has been organising eco-friendly activities from time to time to promote the lake as a sustainable tourism destination while encouraging local youth to take part in adventure sports.
Dr. Chishti said nearly 150 students participated in the day-long festival, competing in canoeing, kayaking, open races and several other events. He said the authority plans to organise such programmes on a regular basis to identify and nurture young talent in water sports.
He further said WMDA intends to develop structured training programmes for children so that they can acquire skills in different water sports disciplines. “Our objective is not only to promote tourism but also to encourage children to make the best use of the beautiful natural resources available at Manasbal Lake through organised and eco-friendly recreational activities,” he said.
The festival concluded with appreciation for the participants, as officials expressed hope that regular water sports initiatives would help establish Manasbal Lake as a major centre for adventure tourism and youth engagement in Jammu and Kashmir.
