Srinagar, Jan 4: The Annual General Meeting of Winter Games Association of Jammu & Kashmir was held here on Friday to discuss various issues related to the promotion and development of Winter Sports in Jammu and Kashmir State.
 The meeting, attended by large number of members and the District Units, was chaired by its President Farooq Shah. Among others Mahmood Ahmad Shah CEO-GDA, Shabir Wani, Gulmustafa Dev, Hafeeza Hassan, Rauf Tramboo, G.A Dar, A.R Tantray, G. M Parray, G. N Reshi, Tariq Ahmad, Shafi Khan, Hameed Dar, and G. M Hajam and Muhammad Yusuf were present.
 The meeting chalked out the annual winter sports calendar for the year 2013 and decided to host the National Junior and Sub-Junior Alpine Ski Championship from 10th of February. The meeting constituted various committees for smooth conduct of this prestigious championship. Farooq Shah was nominated as Organizing Secretary on the Organizing Committee. It was decided that the Tourism Department will be requested to provide logistic and financial support to the association for making the endeavor a grand success. Other sources for financing these events will also be explored. It was also decided to hold coaching camps for all those skiers who have performed better in the last state championships so that their techniques could be polished and are prepared for major sporting events.
 In his inaugural speech Farooq Shah stressed the need of exploring new resorts for winter tourism. He further said that all concerned organizations must work together for the promotion of winter sports in the state. Involvement of youth is essential as these sports are job oriented.
 Exploration of news areas could generate job opportunities in those areas. He said that the conduct of sporting events at national level help both ways by promoting tourism and encouraging the spirit of local youth towards winter sports. The Vice-President Mahmood Ahmad Shah suggested that the ski-touring be promoted and that will help to explore new areas.
 On attaining 25 years of its establishment the WGAJK is organizing Silver Jubilee celebration in March this year. The meeting decided to honor all the renowned winter sports athletes of the state on this occasion.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 4 Jan 2013 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 4 Jan 2013 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 5 Jan 2013 00:00:00 IST