The Secretary General of Rowing Federation of India Girish J Phadnis on Thursday met Principal Secretary Industries And Commerce J&K, Navin K Choudhary and Secretary Sports J&K, SarmadHafeez at Civil Secretariat here.
It was first ever high level meeting that any of the RowingFederation of India official attended in J&K and the aim was to startdevelopment of this Olympic discipline sport in J&K. Phadnis called uponNavin K Choudhary who is also President J&K Rowing Association in hisoffice and discussed various ways of promoting the sport in J&K.
The meeting was also attended by Secretary J&K StateSports Council DrNaseemJaved Chaudhry, Water Sports Coach Bilquis Mir and someof the top level water sports players of State.
On the occasion it was decided that J&K would be hostingits first ever National Rowing event soon and will also be procuring the Rowingequipment.
“It was important meeting as first time ever concrete stepshave been taken to start promotion of this top level Olympic discipline inState. Secretary Rowing Federation stressed upon J&K officials to take fulladvantage of natural water resources of J&K in the development of watersports and Rowing in particular,” said J&K Rowing Association official.
“During the meeting it was decided that J&K would behosting North Zone Indoor Rowing National Championship soon and also J&KRowing Association headed by Navin K Choudhary would be procuring equipment forthe purpose immediately,” official said.
On the occasion Navin K Choudhary assured Rowing FederationSecretary that J&K is taking steps to promote water sports on big level.
“J&K is taking big steps in the promotion of watersports. Already a sanction for the procurement of latest water sport equipmentworth Rupees 7 Crores have been sanctioned under central sponsored scheme.Apart from that a new water sports centre is coming up at Nehru Park,”statement quoted Navin K Choudhary.
Secretary Rowing Federation Girish J Phadnis on the occasionsaid that Federation is keen on to make J&K hub of Rowing trainingprograme.
“We are keen on to make J&K training centre for athletesfrom all over India. J&K has got natural resources available and we want totake full advantage of that. The altitude also makes it perfect destination fortraining athletes for Olympic level events,” he said.
Later Girish J Phadnis also met secretary sportsSarmadHafeez and discussed the ways to promote Rowing in J&K.
Sarmad Hafeez assured the official all the help from J&K in conducting of National event and also of future coaching camps.