Kashmiri girls are taking a fancy to adventure water sports these days.
By Bilal Butt
Srinagar, Sep.6 : Kashmiri girls are taking a fancy to adventure water sports these days.
This was visible at the recently held adventure water sports event hosted by the National Cadet Corps (NCC) at Nigeen Lake here.
At least 34 girls, 15 girls from Srinagar and Jammu region each and four girls from Ladakh, from various schools and colleges participated in the event.
Srinagar-based Girls NCC Battalion's Commanding Officer, Colonel S. S. Raghavan, said that earlier only boys would participate, and today, girls also actively take part.
Raghavan said: "This is the first time that water sports have been organised for the girls. These girls have come form various places, including Gulmarg. My battalion has been given this work to organise the water sports for the girls."
Raghvan said the entire programme could be carried out after 18 years of meticulous planning.
Most of the girls were non-swimmers but the coaches from the NCC enabled them to learn swimming within three days. So much so, like a duck takes to the water, these girls picked up the knack of skiing and surfing on water.
All participants were earlier given basic training by NCC's experts in adventure sports comprising surfing and water-skiing and even swimming. And, the girls fared well to everyone's expectations.
"We are learning swimming and skiing over here and we are not less than any of the boys around. These water sports have been organised by NCC and we are very happy. The CO of our NCC took the lead so that more and more girls come forward for water sports," said Aisha, a participant.
Neediba, another participant, said: "I am happy that water sports have been organised and we are really enjoying it." he scorecard of this venture's success could be gauged from the fact that the registration of the girl students has been on constant rise.
Many of the participating girls expressed their desire to take up water sports a career option.
ANI