For the first time in Uttarakhand, a training camp for the Indian senior canoe slalom team slated to participate in the Asian Games, was inaugurated at Rudraprayag on Monday. The 24-day Sports Authority of India (SAI) training camp is being held on the Mandakini river at Gabni village, Chandrapuri in Rudraprayag. The Indian Kayaking and Canoeing Association, Uttarakhand unit, Uttaranchal Kayaking, Canoeing and Rafting Association (UKCRA) is organising this event which is the first training camp of a national team in the distant area of Kedar valley.
Kedarnath MlA and secretary of Uttaranchal Kayaking, Canoeing and Rafting Association, Manoj Rawat and the Rudraprayag district magistrate Mangesh Ghildiyal met the members of the team and their coaches on the occasion. later, the team members crossed the gates set on the rapids on the Mandakini river both along and against the current. SAI coach from France Jimmy Vircon, senior assistant coach Devendra Gupta and junior assistant coach Digvijay Singh are training 10 Indian team sportspersons in the camp. Canoe and kayak slalom are sports organised on mountain rivers. Dozens of rivers meet the criteria for holding such events.
Speaking on the occasion, the Kedarnath MlA and UKCRA secretary Manoj Rawat said that there are more than 200 sportspersons in Uttarakhand who participate in white water rafting. At the national games held in Jharkhand the gold medal was won by Uttarakhand. "With canoe slalom training being started in the State once again, I believe that within one year international level sportspersons will come up from the state.
The same Mandakini which had caused devastation during the 2013 disaster will help in bringing gold medals in sports and abet employment through tourism," he added.