(Pervez Bari): Six-day national water sports events namely (a) 24th National Canoeing Sprint Championships for men, women, junior men & women and sub-junior boys & junior girls; (b) 2nd National Canoe Slalom (still water) Championships for men & women; (c) 2nd National Canoe Marathon Championships for men, women; (d) 2nd National Canoe Polo Championships for men & women are being organised here from January 15 to 20 at lower lake boat club.
These sports events are being organised under the aegis of Bhopal-based Madhya Pradesh Kayaking & Canoeing Association, (MPKCA), in collaboration with the Madhya Pradesh Sports & Youth Welfare Department, Madhya Pradesh Police, Madhya Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation and Bhopal Municipal Corporation.
Briefing newspersons here on Tuesday Prashant Kushwaha, secretary MPKCA and organising secretary of the championships, informed that around 950-1000 sportspersons representing teams from around 30 states all over the country along with that from Army, Coast Guards, Indian Police etc. are expected to participate in the six-day events. The sportspersons, many of whom who have donned national and international colours, will be seen in action who will scramble to put their best foot forward to grab the 122 gold, silver and bronze medals that would be at stake.
Kushwaha said that Madhya Pradesh Sports & Youth Welfare and Industries Minister Ms Yashodhara Raje Scindia shall be the chief guest at the inaugural function scheduled for 9.30 a.m. on January 15. The special guests on the occasion would include Indian Kayaking & Canoeing Association president S. Ragunathan, secretary general Balbir Singh Kushwaha, MPKCA president D.K. Arya and Madhya Pradesh Olympic Association secretary Digvijay Singh.
The teams participating in the championships are: Army, SSB, Indian Police, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Haryana, J&K, Uttrakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Manipur, Karnataka, Assam, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry, Orissa, Jharkhand, Chandigarh, Delhi, Goa, Andaman & Nicobar and hosts Madhya Pradesh.
It may be pointed out here that Madhya Pradesh team emerged overall champions for last three years in the national championship while SSB remained runners-up last year. M.S. Tomar, acting MPKCA president was present during the press briefing. (pervezbari@eth.net)