(Image source from: thedispatch.in)

Three Indian athletes from Kashmir has finished with three medals in different categories in the 2020 World SnowShoe Championship which has been held at Myoko in Japan.

The 2020 World SnowShoe Championship has been conducted on the 15th and 16th of the month of February 2020 in which participants from around seventeen countries of different continents which included the United States of America, Canada, Australia, Italy, Germany, Spain, Sweden and France have participated in the championship.

It has been identified as being the first time in the history of SnowShoe sport where in the athletes of India have bagged the medals in the World Championship.

The Indian contingent which included nine members has been fielded by SnowShoe Federation of India. Out of the nine members of the Indian contingent, three athletes have bagged one silver and two bronze medals.

Mir Mudassir who is the President of the SnowShoe Federation of India has said that the victory of the three Indian contingents bagging three medals has been for the first time in the five to six years history of SnowShoe sport in India. He has also said that there is a great future for the SnowShoe in India as well as in Kashmir.

He had thanked the government of India and all the supporters which included Sarmad Hafeez who is the Secretary Youth Services and Sports and also the tourism department for extending its support.

Ayan Bin Shahnaz has won a silver medal in the junior category of 5 kilo meter run, Zain Ali has bagged a bronze medal in the junior category of the 5 kilo meter run and Muzamil Hussain Mir has also bagged a bronze medal in the 20-29 age group category in a 9 kilo meter run.

Although Ayan Bil Shahnaz and Zain Ali expressed being extremely happy for their win as it was unexpected that they would win the medals during the championship, Muzamil Mir who has bagged a bronze medal in the category of 20-29 age group has said that he was happy to win it but he wanted to win a medal in a open senior men’s category.

The World SnowShoe Championship has been organized by Japan SnowShoeing Federation under the auspices of World SnowShoe Federation and the race has been held in tough conditions like soft deep snow and the terrain was said to be difficult as it comprised of lot of uphill and steep climbs on the course.

By Shrithika Kushangi