Sajid Raina
Bandipora, Jan 20: Sports enthusiasts in snowbound Gurez valley organised several sports tournaments including cricket and football on a frozen snowfield for promoting winter sports.
As per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the remote valley has a great potential for winter sports as it remains covered under heavy snow during winters. Considering it an opportunity to showcase its outsiders, the locals held several sports activities including cricket and football tournaments on a frozen snowfield.
Cricket on snow turf has become quite popular among the locals and a tournament was organized by Sports Cricket Club Markoot. A total of 10 teams participated in the tournament.
Many videos from the valley went viral on social media where several youths were seen playing cricket on the snow-clad ground in the backdrop of mesmerising snow-covered mountains.
The locals said that these tournaments are organised every year during the winters and several youths from the nearby areas participate in it.
They appealed to the government to provide funds for the winter games in Gurez as it would immensely benefit the tourism sector in the winter season also.
“We really wish we could get support from the government to further boost winter sports in this part of the valley,” says Yawar Ahmad, a local.
Gurez was given the ”Best offbeat destination of India” award last year, after which the number of tourist arrivals in the region increased tremendously—(KNO)
