KP govt to hold ‘Shandur ice sports gala’

PESHAWAR: Adviser to Chief Minister on Tourism, Culture, Archaeology, and Museums Zahid Chanzeb on Wednesday said that his department was holding winter sports competitions for the first time at the Laspur valley in Upper Chitral district.

Talking to reporters at the inaugural ceremony of the “Shandur Ice Winter Sports competitions,” he said that the sports competitions were being organised to promote winter tourism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

“Actually, Shandur ground is internationally famous for the Shandur Polo Festival held in the summer, but this is the first time in the province’s history that ice hockey, curling, and speed-skating competitions are being held on the frozen Shandur Lake during the ongoing winter,” he said, adding that this initiative was aimed at establishing Shandur ground as a year-round destination for the tourists and visitors.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority (KPCTA), Winter Sports Federation, district administration of Upper Chitral and Chitral Scouts, are jointly organising a series of Shandur Ice Winter Sports competitions.

Over 100 male and female athletes from Lower and Upper Chitral districts are participating in these events. The initial phase includes training sessions with the final matches scheduled to take place on December 28 at Shandur Top on the frozen lake.

The boys and girls players from Lower and Upper Chitral are participating in the first phase, which included training sessions held at Harchin village.The Shandur Ice Sports Competitions feature over 45 female athletes and over 100 participants from various valleys of Chitral, including Gabor, Garam Chashma, Kalash, Madaklasht, Booni, Parwak, Yarkhun Lasht, Harchin, and others.

In the first phase, training sessions are being conducted in Harchin followed by matches in ice hockey, curling, and speed-skating, which would help select the final teams.In the second phase, these selected athletes would compete in the final matches at Shandur Top on December 28.

The KPCTA in collaboration with the Winter Sports Federation, has been providing winter sports equipment to athletes for the past three years and regularly organising training sessions and games for them.