MUZAFFARABAD: The sixth Winter Sports Festival in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) concluded at the scenic hilltop of Toli Peer on Saturday, marking the first time the annual event was held at the 9,000-foot-high destination in Poonch district known for its snow-clad vistas.
Organised by the AJK Winter Sports Association from Feb 11 to 14 in collaboration with the AJK Sports Department and the Pakistan Winter Sports Federation, the festival attracted more than 70 male and female athletes from 11 clubs across Pakistan and AJK.
Set against sweeping white landscapes, the competitions featured ski slalom, giant slalom, and snowboarding events, with participants displaying notable speed and technical skill.
In the men’s category, athletes from Neelum Ski Club, AJK, secured prominent positions. Rafaqat Manzoor clinched gold medals in ski slalom (20.66 seconds), giant slalom (15.28 seconds) and snowboarding (21.62 seconds), emerging as the most successful competitor of the festival.
Shahid Rashid (22.09 seconds) and Adeel Tariq (22.10 seconds) secured silver and bronze, respectively, in the slalom event, while Sabir Zaman (15.82 seconds) and Sajid Ali (16.22 seconds) finished second and third in giant slalom. In snowboarding, Taif Raza (21.91 seconds) won silver and Murshid Ahmad (22.87 seconds) bronze.
In the women’s events, Madaklasht Ski Club of Chitral dominated the podium. Azia Gul won gold in ski slalom (17.58 seconds) and giant slalom (20.92 seconds), and secured silver in snowboarding (56.10 seconds).
Maha (25.93 seconds) and Naina (29.09 seconds) claimed silver and bronze, respectively, in slalom. In giant slalom, Muntasha (28.72 seconds) and Naina (29.84 seconds) finished second and third. Naina bagged gold in snowboarding (34.44 seconds), followed by Muntasha (1:09.72) with bronze.
Youth competitions in the under-15 and under-12 categories were also held, highlighting emerging talent and underscoring growing interest in winter sports among younger participants. Retired Air Commodore Shahid Nadeem, president of the AJK Winter Sports Association and vice president of the Pakistan Winter Sports Federation, distributed medals and cash prizes among the winners.
Speaking on the occasion, AJK Winter Sports Association Secretary General Aqeel Khurshid said such events played a vital role in steering youth towards healthy and constructive activities, fostering discipline, confidence and mental resilience.
He said winter sports festivals not only helped groom young talent but also created positive engagement opportunities and promoted productive lifestyles. He added that the events contributed to winter tourism, stimulated local business activity, and supported the broader regional economy.
Mr Khurshid maintained that Toli Peer had the potential to develop into a national winter sports hub capable of attracting athletes, tourists and adventure enthusiasts from across the country.
The first Winter Sports Festival in AJK was held in 2019 at Arang Kel in the picturesque Neelum Valley. The second, third, fourth and fifth editions took place at Ganga Choti in Bagh district in 2020, 2022, 2023 and 2024, respectively. The event was not held in 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, while the 2025 edition could not be organised for want of adequate snowfall.
Published in Dawn, February 15th, 2026
