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| Khelo India Zanskar Winter Sports and Youth Festival 2021 concludes |
NEW DELHI (Lampe):- The 13 days long Khelo
India Zanskar winter sports and youth festival concluded at Zanskar Valley of
the Union Territory of Ladakh. The festival first of its kind was organized by
the Department of Sports & Youth Services under the Khelo India banner in
collaboration with the Ladakh Tourism Department.
The festival was
organized to showcase the potential in adventure tourism and sports and aims to
open a new arena in Ladakh for adventure and economy. It is one of the biggest
events that has been organized to promote winter tourism in Ladakh. The 13day long festival was started on January 18th and concluded on Saturday, January
30th 2021. Member of Parliament (MP) Ladakh Jamyang Tsering Namgyal was the
chief guest on the occasion while Councillor Cha Constituency Stanzin Lakpa was
guest of honor.
Secretary Sports
Ravinder Kumar, Director Tourism UT Ladakh Kunzes Angmo, Padma Shree Awardee
Tsultrim Chonjor, Presidents of Ladakh Buddhist Association Zanskar, Zanskar
Gonpa Association, Zanskar Muslim Association, LBA Youth Wing, Muslim Youth
Wing, Women’s Association Zanskar, OSDs and Under Secretaries of UT Ladakh,
officers of Army and GREF and other sub-divisional officers were present as
special guests.
Speaking on the occasion, Member of Parliament Ladakh Shri Jamyang Tsering Namgyal said
that the event is a great achievement towards promoting winter sports and
tourism in Ladakh. He elaborated that so far tourists would visit religious
places and other sites only, but this event will change the scenario in terms
of expansion of economic activities and tourism.
Sh Namgyal thanked and
appreciated the role played by the UT administration and other concerned
departments in making the event a huge success. He said that in upcoming the year the event will be prolonged for around 70 days including trekking on the
Chadar Trek.
Secretary Sports
Ravinder Kumar in his address appreciated the efforts of the MoS Youth Affairs
and Sports, Shri Kiren Rijiju, MP Ladakh Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, Department of
Youth Services and Sports UT, Ladakh, Department of Tourism UT Ladakh, other
concerned agencies and individuals besides the people of Zanskar for their
efforts in making this event a successful one.
I assure you that
this event will be conducted with much efficiency and affectivity next year.
With support from the Ministry of Sports, GoI we will assist in infrastructural
development, equipment procurement, and other necessary assistance”, said Kumar.
Speaking on the occasion, Director Tourism UT Ladakh Kunzes Angmo said that Zanskar has
potential for winter tourism and adventure, for which the Department of Tourism
Ladakh will strive to develop necessary requirements.
The winter festival showcased a host of outdoor activities and sporting events like ice
hockey, snow skiing, yak and horse riding, ice climbing, and archery. Events of
social and cultural importance like snow sculpting, food festival, yoga, and
meditation were also part of the festival.
Appreciation certificates were distributed among athletes, coaches, organizers, and other participants. Various sporting teams, the Zanskar students Association, and other cultural troupes presented colorful folk songs and dances on the occasion. Around 700 people from various different parts of Zanskar participated in the event.
Pertinently, the Union Sports Ministry plans to provide sports facilities in all regions of Ladakh. It aims to promote Ladakh as a center for Ice Hockey and soon open a center for archery and polo in two areas in the region.
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