KD NEWS SERVICE
SRINAGAR, Aug 18: Nigeen Water Sports Club in collaboration with Tourism Department is providing free swimming classes here.
The move is one among the several initiatives of the government to attract youth towards water sports in the Union Territory, an official said.
One of the coaches said, “After the 2014 floods, we formed the ‘Swimming and Survival’ society here with free-of-cost help from the Department of Tourism. We are also training students here. As a swimmer, I have participated in many national competitions and I consider it my duty to teach swimming to others as well.”
The population of swimmers in Kashmir is very less as compared to other states, he said, adding, “We also teach life-saving skills here.” Muzaffar Ahmad, whose child is training at the club in the Under-14 category, said “My child has learned swimming very well. He now learns freestyle swimming, fin swimming, and other types as well. Last year, he visited Indore to participate in the national swimming competition. The teachers here have taught him very well.” Mohsin Fayaz Shah, a local swimmer from Srinagar, said he came to the club in 2020 and learned to swim within a span of seven days.
“After learning, I crossed the Nigeen Lake,” Mohsin said. “It is a Sunnat-e-Nabwi (the act of the Prophet (SAW) and the best exercise.” “I would like to request everyone to come here and learn to swim. The coaches here are well-trained and the best of their kind,” he added—(KNO)
