SRINAGAR, September 25, 2025 : Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday lauded the stellar performance of 10-year-old racing prodigy Atiqa Mir, who secured an impressive fourth place in the Champions of the Future Academy (COFTA) karting series held in Orechova, Slovakia.
Atiqa, who led the race for a major part before narrowly missing a podium finish, is being hailed as one of India’s brightest young motorsport talents. The COFTA series is closely followed by the F1 Academy top brass, making her performance a remarkable achievement on the international stage.
Notably, Atiqa is the first Indian to receive Formula 1 backing and is part of the F1 Academy DYD programme, placing her in an elite bracket of racers groomed for future F1 stardom.
Abdullah, in his post on X, praised her journey, writing:
“Well done to young Atiqa. Her natural talent and enthusiasm for racing shine through. I hope the day is not far when she will be the first Kashmiri to race at the pinnacle of motor racing – F1. Keep up the good work Atiqa and best wishes always.”
Earlier this month, Atiqa also clinched the DAMC karting series title in Dubai, adding another feather to her fast-rising career.
