Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 21: The Directorate of Tourism, Jammu, in collaboration with District Administration Doda commenced the Chenab Challenge – 6th National Rafting Championship at Shibnote (Premnagar) in Doda.
The inaugural event was flagged off by Harvinder Singh, Deputy Commissioner, Doda in the presence of Sandeep Mehta, SSP Doda, Aijaz Qaiser, Joint Director Tourism, Jammu, Pankaj Sasan, Deputy Director Tourism (Administration), Jammu, Arif Lone Seth, Assistant Director Tourism, NHW-Batote and Rajesh Raina, Assistant Director Tourism, Katra, along with senior officers of the Tourism Department and District Administration.
The championship commenced with the Marathon category, covering the stretch from Shibnote to Karara and witnessed enthusiastic participation from 13 rafting teams representing different parts of the country. The event drew significant attention from adventure sports enthusiasts and local spectators alike, underlining the vast potential of the Chenab River stretch for hosting national-level rafting competitions. The national level event is organised on the directions of Additional Chief Secretary Tourism Ashish Chander Verma and supersized by Vikas Gupta, Director Tourism Jammu.
Harvinder Singh lauded the Tourism Department for conceptualising and organising a high-value adventure tourism event in the Chenab Valley. He emphasised the importance of sustainable tourism practices, ensuring minimal environmental impact while promoting adventure sports and highlighted the responsible utilisation of natural river resources.
Aijaz Qaiser, Joint Director Tourism, Jammu, thanked the District Administration Doda for its unwavering support and stated that active community participation in Doda remains central to the Department’s vision of long-term, eco-friendly tourism development in the region. He also expressed gratitude to the Department of Youth Services and Sports J&K, Jammu Adventure Sports Association and the Indian Rafting Federation for their support in successfully organising the event.
A special mention was made of the three women teams participating in the championship, whose enthusiastic involvement reflects growing inclusivity and the increasing presence of women in competitive rafting at the national level.
The Chenab Challenge – 6th National Rafting Championship will conclude tomorrow (February 22), with sprint category followed by valedictory function.
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