Srinagar, August 21, 2025 – In a moment of triumph at the iconic Dal Lake, 17-year-old Mohsin Ali Kand, a shikara operator from Srinagar, clinched the first gold medal for Jammu and Kashmir at the Khelo India Water Sports Festival 2025. The young kayaker’s victory in the 1000-meter men’s kayaking event, with an impressive time of 4:12.717, marked a historic start to the inaugural water sports festival, held from August 21 to 23.
Mohsin, a 12th-standard student at SP Higher Secondary School, swapped his shikara oars for a kayak paddle, showcasing grit and determination. Hailing from Kand Mohalla inside Dal Lake, he has been rowing shikaras to support his family while pursuing his passion for water sports since the age of seven. His journey from a lower-middle-class background, as the son of carpenter Fida Hussain Kand, to national glory has inspired many.
The Khelo India Water Sports Festival, organised by the Sports Authority of India and the J&K Sports Council, transforms Dal Lake into a national sporting arena. Featuring rowing, canoeing, and kayaking as medal events, alongside demonstration events like shikara sprints, dragon boat racing, and water skiing, the festival has drawn over 400 athletes from 36 states and union territories. Mohsin’s gold, ahead of Odisha’s Naoram James Singh (4:14.68) and Madhya Pradesh’s Mayank (4:23.28), sparked celebrations, with the local crowd chanting “Mohsin! Shabhash, Mohsin!” as he crossed the finish line.
Despite financial struggles, Mohsin credits his father, coach Bilquis Mir—a former international athlete and Olympic judge—and the Jammu and Kashmir Kayaking and Canoeing Association for his success. “Water sports is my passion, and I dream of representing India at the international level. Rowing a shikara helps me share the family burden and buy the diet I need for training,” he said, highlighting the challenge of affording a protein-rich, carbohydrate-rich, electrolyte-rich diet required for professional athletes.
Mohsin believes training at the high-altitude Dal Lake gives him a stamina advantage over competitors from the plains, fueling his ambition to compete in events like the Asian Games, World Championship, and Olympics. “This is just the beginning,” he said, even as he worries about resources to reach the next level.
The festival, inaugurated by Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya via video message, with J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in attendance, celebrates Kashmir’s culture and ecology. The Himalayan Kingfisher mascot and a logo featuring a shikara on Dal Lake reflect the region’s heritage. Local shikara operator and athlete Mohammad Rafiq Malla sees the event as a turning point for both sports and tourism. “This festival brings opportunities for athletes and people like me who live inside Dal Lake,” he said.
Mohsin’s achievement underscores the Khelo India initiative’s mission, launched in 2017-18, to promote grassroots sports and identify talent early. As Dal Lake ripples with the energy of young athletes, this victory signals a new chapter for Jammu and Kashmir as a water sports hub, blending sporting excellence with cultural pride.
