SRINAGAR: Mountain runners, rejoice: Kashmir will, for the first time, host a National Mountain Running Championship this summer.
Officials said the move was an effort to boost region’s adventure tourism industry, which was hit by more than two decades of separatist rebellion.
Indian Mountain Running Association (IMRA) is going to organize first National Mountain Running Championship on April 07 this year.
“Athletes from different Parts of the country are expected to take part in the championship. Three venues have been identified for the Championship which includes Hilly area of Dara Harwan, Hills of Fakeer Gujri and Shankar Acharya in Srinagar,” IMRA said in a statement.
IMRA and J&K Mountain Running Association organized somel coaching camps and domestic events in J&K to promote mountain running in the region.
“IMRA believes that Kashmir and Ladakh regions have enormous potential for mountain running activities.There are several high altitude mountains in J&K where athletes of the country could be trained better so that they would be able to compete at the International level,” IMRA added.
Kashmir was once dubbed the Switzerland of the east. It was once a mecca for climbers, skiers and was also famous for White-water rafting.
But the number of visitors began falling and adventure tourism was worst hit after a revolt broke out in 1989 that has killed tens of thousands of people.
Officials say violence involving troops and separatist militants has declined since a peace process began in 2004 between India and Pakistan.
The peace has led to return of tourism in Kashmir with at least two seasons when a relatively large number of domestic and foreign tourists visited the valley.
But authorities have failed to promote adventure tourism so far in the Valley.
