GILGIT: The National Ski Championship commenced here on Sunday in the Naltar valley of Gilgit Baltistan. The inaugural ceremony was attended by locals, fans of the winter games, representatives of SFP, skiers and top government officials.

Speaking to Dawn, SFP spokesman Obaid ur Rahman Abbasi said usually ski tournaments are held in Naltar valley in the month of January but this year due to insufficient snow, SFP revised the schedule of the events.

Abbasi said according to new schedule, National Ski Championship is being held from Feb 8-12 while Shah Khan Ski cup will be commencing from Feb 12-18.

Some 44 male and female skiers from ten teams including Skiing Associations of Alpine club, Pakistan Army, Civil Aviation Authority, GB scouts, Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, Pakistan Air Force, Pakistan Navy, , Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, Gilgit-Baltistan are taking part in the event.

Abbasi said after the installation of new 180-seater ski chairlift in Naltar valley this year, the winter ski competitions would become more attractive. He said there are a number of areas in Northern Pakistan in the high mountain ranges ideal for skiing especially in Kaghan, Gilgit-Baltistan and Swat.

Naltar is located in Karakoram Range and is the oldest ski resort of Pakistan at 10,500 feet.

The chief guest of the inaugural ceremony was GB Secretary Tourism and Sports Syed Mohammad Hadi. Speaking on the occasion Air Force Commander Kalabagh Syed Abdullah said skiing is an exciting sport not only for those who practise it but also for the spectators.

This is a sport that not only fine tune physical skills but also provides the thrill of speed, he added.

Published in Dawn, February 10th, 2015

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