Srinagar, August 23: Jammu & Kashmir’s young water sports athletes Mohsin Ali, Sajad Hussain, and Muhammad Hussain, hailing from humble backgrounds around Dal Lake, have brought glory to the Union Territory at the Khelo India Water Sports Festival (KIWSF) 2025.
Mohsin Ali clinched gold in K-1 1000 metre men’s kayaking, while Sajad secured silver in C-2 500 metre Canoe Slalom. Muhammad Hussain won silver in C-2 Canoe 500 metres men and bronze in C-1 Canoe 1000 metres men. Their outstanding performances helped hosts J&K finish 7th among 28 states and UTs in the national championship.
SAI Nehru Park Centre: A Turning Point
Despite financial struggles, the families of these athletes encouraged them to pursue water sports, drawing confidence from the Sports Authority of India (SAI) centre at Nehru Park, Dal Lake. The centre has become a lifeline for aspiring water sports athletes in Kashmir, offering professional training, equipment, and mentorship.
Sajad recalled how their coach, Zulfkar Ali Bhat, went beyond training duties to ensure their education continued smoothly.
“After morning training, our coach would drop us at school. We would even change into our school uniforms in his car,” he shared.
Fighting Odds, Breaking Barriers
Coming from the Mir Bahri community inside Dal Lake, Sajad, the son of a Shikarawallah, said that venturing into endurance sports like canoeing was extremely difficult without proper diet, nutrition, and financial support.
Muhammad Hussain echoed similar struggles:
“We aren’t financially well off. Without the SAI centre at Nehru Park, it wouldn’t have been possible to excel at this level. The centre has been instrumental in our success.”
He also underlined how sports keep youth away from the menace of drug addiction, highlighting its social importance.
Mohsin Ali, the gold medalist, shared that he often worked with his family by rowing a Shikara to make ends meet.
“Without SAI’s support, winning gold would not have been possible,” he said.
Long-Term Vision: 2036 Olympics
Coach Zulfkar Ali Bhat emphasized that the SAI Nehru Park Centre is working on long-term strategies to prepare athletes for global platforms.
“As India bids for the 2036 Olympics, we are developing a pool of talented athletes who can represent the country in canoeing and kayaking at the highest level,” he stated.
The success of Mohsin, Sajad, and Hussain reflects the growing potential of water sports in Kashmir, proving that with the right support, Dal Lake can be a cradle of Olympic dreams.
