Dal Lake to Host Inaugural Khelo India Water Sports Festival; 400 Athletes to Compete for 24 Golds

The scenic Dal Lake in Jammu & Kashmir is set to host the first-ever Khelo India Water Sports Festival (KIWSF), with over 400 athletes from 36 states and Union Territories competing across rowing, canoeing, and kayaking events. The three-day national-level, open-age championship will offer 24 gold medals, making it a landmark event in India’s sporting calendar.

Organised under the Khelo Bharat Niti, the Water Sports Festival joins the recently held Beach Games in Diu as a new addition to the Khelo India initiative, aimed at promoting niche sports and boosting tourism.

The championship will feature 14 canoeing and kayaking events and 10 rowing events, all of which are Olympic disciplines. Additionally, three demonstration events — water skiing, shikhara boat sprints, and dragon boat races — will add a cultural and recreational flavor to the festival.

Competition manager and former World Cup canoeist Bilquis Mir said the course has been prepared to international standards, ensuring top-class competition. “With Services not participating as a team, it will be exciting to see which states dominate,” she added.

States like Madhya Pradesh (44 athletes), Haryana (37), Odisha (34), and Kerala (33) will field the largest contingents. Among star attractions is Olympian Arjun Lal Jat, representing Delhi, who won silver in lightweight double sculls at the 2022 Asian Games.

The event promises near gender parity, with 202 women among the 409 participants. The opening ceremony will be held Thursday evening, attended by Union Minister of State Srimati Raksha Khadse along with J&K dignitaries.

Three gold medals in canoeing and kayaking will be decided on Day 1, while all 10 rowing finals are scheduled for the final day on August 23.

This will be the second Khelo India event hosted in Jammu & Kashmir, after the Winter Games in Gulmarg, further reinforcing the government’s commitment to promoting grassroots sports across diverse terrains of India.