Overview

• Races in rowing, canoeing and kayaking began August 21 on Srinagar’s Dal Lake, alongside demonstration events such as water skiing, shikhara sprint and dragon boat racing.
• Senior Jammu and Kashmir leaders, including Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, presided over the opening, with the Sports Ministry highlighting new Khelo India formats.
• Media reports differ on participation and medal counts, with figures ranging from 409 athletes from 36 states and UTs competing for 24 golds to over 500 athletes contesting 16 events.
• Day one delivered results, including a 1,000m canoe gold for local athlete Mohsin Ali, while reports also noted an additional bronze for Jammu and Kashmir.
• Entries were drawn from recent nationals, with Tehri serving as qualifiers for kayaking and canoeing and Bhopal for rowing, as organizers position the festival to develop talent and promote the region.