Trials for selection of the Indian team to contest in the canoe slalom competitions in the Asian Games at Jakarta in Indonesia later this year were held on the Mandakini river at Gabni village in Chandrapuri, Rudraprayag district on Wednesday. For the training of the national team for canoe and kayak slalom a camp is underway at Gabni from June 7 to 30.
The 2018 Asian Games will include one kayak and one canoe slalom competition for men and one kayak and one canoe slalom competition for women.
Canoe slalom chairperson Bilquis Mir said that there is immesnse potential for canoe slalom in mountainous States like Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir. International level competitions can also be organised on this slalom course of the Mandakini river in Rudraprayag district. If the state government provides the necessary equipment, international level sportspersons can also emerge from Uttarakhand, she added.
The Kedarnath MlA and secretary of Uttaranchal Kayaking, Canoeing and Rafting Association, Manoj Rawat was also among those present on the occasion.