Splashing Glory: Khelo India Water Sports Festival Hits Dal Lake

The Khelo India Water Sports Festival is set to kick off at the iconic Dal Lake, with over 400 athletes vying for supremacy in canoeing, kayaking, and rowing. The festival is a key initiative to bolster the national sports scene and boost tourism.

This inaugural event will feature participants from 36 states and union territories, competing for a total of 24 gold medals in Olympic-aligned water sports disciplines. Among the star attractions is the country's leading rower, Arjun Lal Jat, a silver medalist at the Asian Games in Hangzhou.

The festival, part of the Khelo India effort, aims to provide a platform for athletes like Madhya Pradesh's Suhani Meena and Rajasthan's Nitish Chaudhary. It promises high-level competition with stringent qualification standards, ensuring only the best compete.

(With inputs from agencies.)