Share your story and shine at JK Monitor!🌟 Welcome to JK Monitor, where every story matters and every achievement is celebrated! We invite you to share the remarkable journey of your life and showcase your accomplishments to the world. Join our exclusive interviews that honor exceptional individuals just like you. JAMMU: A group of adventure sports enthusiasts recently called on Mr. Aman Kalsotra, Founder, Adventure Allied International and UT President Paragliding Association (Adhoc), to discuss the challenges being faced by adventure athletes and enthusiasts across Jammu & Kashmir and deliberate upon measures for the systematic development and promotion of adventure sports in the Union Territory.
During the interaction, the participants highlighted the enormous potential of Jammu & Kashmir to emerge as a leading national and international destination for adventure sports. They stressed that the sector, however, requires greater institutional attention, dedicated training infrastructure, inter-departmental coordination and timely facilitation to enable local talent to develop and contribute to the tourism and economy of the UT.
The participants pointed out that adventure sports can benefit not only individual athletes through medals, awards, monetary incentives, employment opportunities, recognition and fame at national and international levels, but can also create wider economic opportunities. A well-developed adventure sports ecosystem can contribute towards employment generation, tourism promotion and growth of hotels, travel operators, adventure companies, equipment suppliers and other allied businesses, besides attracting domestic and international visitors.
Lack of Practice and Ground-Handling Facilities
A major concern raised during the interaction was the lack of adequate and accessible spaces for basic practice, training and ground-handling, particularly for beginners and budding adventure athletes.
The participants observed that before an individual can become a professional adventure athlete or participate in advanced activities, competitions, expeditions and professional adventure programmes, proper foundational training and regular practice are essential for which entry into sports stadiums & newly developed Khel Gaon for practice session & ground handling demanded.
Speaking particularly about paragliding, Mr. Aman Kalsotra stated that several youths have recently completed paragliding pilot training sponsored by the Jammu Tourism Department and are now awaiting a clear roadmap for further opportunities.
“After completing professional paragliding training, pilots primarily require suitable flying sites, favourable weather conditions and opportunities to practice and gain experience. Jammu & Kashmir is naturally blessed with breathtaking landscapes and highly suitable terrain for this sport. We need to convert this natural advantage into a structured opportunity for our trained local youth,” Kalsotra said.
He further stated that delays in the approval and operationalization of suitable paragliding sites are making it difficult for trained domestic pilots to further explore and develop their capabilities.
“Many trained pilots are ready to move ahead, and several organizers are also interested in bringing adventure activities to J&K. This opportunity should not be allowed to remain untapped. Timely approval of suitable sites and a clear regulatory and operational roadmap can give a major boost to adventure tourism and local employment,” he added.
Need for Integrated Adventure Sports Wing
Kalsotra emphasized the need for stronger coordination between the Tourism Department, J&K Sports Council and Youth Services & Sports Department for the systematic promotion of adventure sports.
He proposed the creation of a dedicated Adventure Sports Wing or an integrated institutional mechanism that can facilitate adventure athletes and enthusiasts with training, equipment, infrastructure, government schemes and other necessary support.
According to Kalsotra, such an institutional framework would help identify and nurture local talent while providing athletes with opportunities to participate in competitions and represent Jammu & Kashmir at national and international platforms.
He also called for the establishment of state-of-the-art adventure and allied sports institutions at the district level, to be developed across Jammu & Kashmir in a phased manner.
“These institutions can become centres for training, practice, coaching, equipment support, safety awareness and talent development. We need to build an adventure sports culture in J&K rather than treating individual adventure activities as isolated events,” Kalsotra said.
Adventure Sports Can Drive Tourism and Employment
The participants maintained that Jammu & Kashmir's natural terrain provides a unique opportunity to develop a comprehensive adventure sports ecosystem covering paragliding and other adventure disciplines.
They stressed that a comprehensive adventure sports policy should integrate sports development, tourism, youth engagement, employment generation, entrepreneurship and local economic development.
They urged the concerned authorities to formulate a clear and time-bound roadmap for the development of adventure sports in the UT, including identification and approval of suitable sites, creation of practice facilities, equipment support, training infrastructure and coordination among concerned departments.
The participants expressed hope that the government and concerned authorities would take the matter forward on priority so that Jammu & Kashmir can harness its vast natural potential and establish itself as a prominent national and international hub for adventure sports, while creating new opportunities for local athletes, youth, entrepreneurs and the tourism industry.