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Srinagar, August 2025 – Three young water sports athletes from humble families living around Dal Lake, Srinagar, have made Jammu and Kashmir proud by winning medals at the Khelo India Water Sports Festival (KIWSF) 2025.
🥇 Mohsin Ali Wins Gold in Kayaking
Mohsin Ali, a resident of Dal Lake, clinched gold in K-1 1000m men’s kayaking. Despite financial struggles, Mohsin continued training at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) Centre, Nehru Park. He also helps his family by rowing a shikara for livelihood.
“Without SAI’s support, I could not have achieved this gold medal,” said Mohsin.
🥈🥉 Canoeing Glory for Sajad & Muhammad Hussain
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Sajad Hussain won silver in C-2 500m Canoe Slalom.
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Muhammad Hussain bagged silver in C-2 500m Canoe and bronze in C-1 1000m Canoe.
Both athletes credited their success to the SAI Nehru Park Centre, where they trained under dedicated coaches.
“Our coach Zulfkar Ali Bhat even dropped us to school after morning training sessions so that we wouldn’t miss classes,” recalled Sajad.
🌊 Role of SAI Nehru Park Centre, Dal Lake
The SAI water sports centre at Nehru Park, established inside Dal Lake, has been instrumental in shaping young talent in J&K. Coaches not only provide world-class training but also mentor athletes to stay away from negative influences.
Muhammad Hussain said:
“Participating in sports keeps us away from drug addiction. Without SAI, we couldn’t afford training or equipment.”
💪 Struggles Behind Success
The families of these athletes belong to the Mir Bahri area of Dal Lake and struggle financially. Yet, they encouraged their children to pursue sports. Their determination, combined with SAI’s structured training, has produced national-level champions.
🎯 Preparing for Olympics 2036
Coach Zulfkar Ali Bhat emphasized that the Nehru Park Centre is working on long-term plans as India bids for the 2036 Olympics.
“We aim to create a strong talent pool that can represent India at international events,” he said.
📊 J&K’s Medal Tally at KIWSF 2025
Thanks to the medals won by Mohsin, Sajad, and Hussain, Jammu & Kashmir finished 7th among 28 states and UTs at the Khelo India Water Sports Festival 2025.
