NEW DELHI, August 6, 2025 : Pioneering Kashmiri kayaker Bilquis Mir met Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and Minister of State for Sports Raksha Nikhil Khadse in the capital on Tuesday to discuss the future of water sports in India.
The 38-year-old, who served as a jury member for kayaking and canoeing at the Paris Olympics, shared insights on the growth of the sport and presented ideas for developing kayaking and canoeing nationwide. Mir said the ministers acknowledged her journey and encouraged her to prepare a roadmap for nurturing talent and building competitive teams.
“It was heartening to see the Union Sports Ministry’s keen interest in water sports, which offer 16 Olympic medals,” she said. “I felt a greater recognition of sportspersons outside Jammu and Kashmir during this meeting.”
The meeting comes ahead of the first-ever Khelo India Water Sports Festival to be held on Dal Lake, Srinagar, from August 21 to 23.
Praising Mir’s remarkable journey, MoS Khadse said: “Real champions not only win medals, they create pathways for others. Bilquis Mir embodies that spirit—with innovation, grassroots commitment, and resilience.”
Mir’s journey began by chance on Dal Lake during a casual outing in her teens. Between 1998 and 2006, she won over 25 national medals and became the first from J&K to represent India at the ICF Sprint World Cup in Hungary, where she reached the semifinals. She later served as India’s women’s kayaking and canoeing coach at the 2012 London Olympics.
Currently serving as Director of Water Sports at Nehru Park, Srinagar, Mir has trained over 3,000 athletes, including more than 300 girls. Her protégés have secured over 120 national medals, transforming the lakeside training centre into a hub of excellence.
Khade lauded Mir’s grassroots efforts: “Her work proves that when dreams are supported, they inspire entire communities.”
Despite her achievements, Mir faced a challenging legal battle after the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) filed an FIR in 2023, alleging she lacked a required technical qualification for her post. The Jammu and Kashmir High Court recently quashed the case, calling it a “witch-hunt” and criticising the targeting of a decorated sportsperson.
“The emotional toll was intense, but I stayed strong for the next generation of women athletes,” Mir said after her return to Kashmir.
The ministers reaffirmed the central government’s commitment to supporting grassroots athletes through initiatives like Khelo India, and recognised Mir’s journey as a symbol of perseverance and inspiration for aspiring athletes across the nation.
