Jammu and Kashmir put up an impressive performance at the 10th All India Inter-Sports Authority of India (SAI) Kayaking and Canoeing Championships, finishing fourth overall in the senior category as the event concluded today at the National Centre of Excellence (NCOE), Alleppey.
The four-day championship witnessed participation from eight SAI centres across the country, showcasing some of India’s finest water sports talent. Hosts NCOE Alleppey emerged overall champions, followed by strong performances from NCOE Bhopal and NCOE Jagatpur.
Jammu and Kashmir’s athletes bagged a total of eight medals — two gold, two silver, and four bronze — marking one of their best outings at the national level.
The highlight of J&K’s campaign was the stellar performance by Mohammad Hussain and Sajad Hussain, who struck double gold in the senior men’s canoe doubles 200m and 500m events.
The duo had earlier made headlines with their outstanding performance at the Khelo India Water Sports Festival held at Dal Lake, Srinagar, in August.
The Alleppey meet, featuring 197 athletes including 92 girls, witnessed intense competition across 96 medal events. Prominent SAI centres from Bhopal, Jagatpur, Port Blair, Bilaspur, Roorkee, and EME also took part.
Officials said that the Khelo India Water Sports Festival has given a major boost to water sports in India, especially after Prime Minister Narendra Modi acknowledged the event’s achievers in his August “Mann Ki Baat” address.
NCOE Alleppey dominated the event with 24 gold and 15 silver medals in the senior and junior sections respectively. NCOE Bhopal followed closely with 11 golds in the senior category and topped the sub-junior section with seven golds, while Jagatpur finished among the top three across all categories.
For the record, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and Kerala were the top-performing States at the Khelo India Water Sports Festival, reflecting the growing strength of water sports talent across the country.
