By Mohamad Yousuf
Kayaks and canoes have been used for travel and transportation for hundreds of years by people of many cultures. Canadian Canoeing was started by Red Indians in North America and Kayaking by Eskimos. Other forms emerged as dug-out, outriggers in other parts of the world. The out-rigged dug out canoes are still used in Kerala and famous Shikara in Kashmir. Originally canoes and kayaks were built of such materials as wood (covered with bark) and whalebone (covered with animal skins) but now they are usually constructed of molded plastic and fiberglass and aluminum alloys etc. As a competitive sport canoeing was invented by John MacGregor of Scotland in 1866. Canoeing debuted at the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris as a demonstration sport. It was included as a medal sport at the 1936 Olympic in Berlin. The International Canoe Federation founded in 1924 is the world wide canoeing organization and creates the standard rules for the different disciplines of canoe/kayak competitions. In India the sport is controlled by Kayaking and Canoeing Federation of India, led by Mr. Avinash Kohli. The J&K Kayaking and Canoeing Association is the umbrella organization of all state canoe clubs statewide. The JKKCA is ably led by Dr. Sheikh Mustafa Kamaal for last several decades.
Types/events of Kayaks/Canoes:
Kayaking and Canoeing are two different recognized Olympic paddle sports. These are emerging as one of the most popular water sports in the world. Flat water Kayaking is the use of a Kayak for moving across in still water. Kayaking is generally differentiated from Canoeing by the fact that a kayak has closed cockpit and a canoe has an open cockpit. In kayaking we use two bladed paddle whileas in canoeing we use one bladed paddle. Another major difference is in the way peddler sits in the boat. Kayakers sit in a seat on the bottom of the boat with their legs extended out in front of them. Canoeists will kneel directly on the bottom of the boat.
COMPETITIVE EVENTS:
Kayaking:
Category - Length of Boat - Weight of Boat - Events/Distances
K1–Single
seat Kayak - 520cm - 12 KG - Men: 200m, 500m,1000m
Women: 200 m, 500 m
K2–Double
seat Kayak - 650cm - 18 KG - Men: 200m, 500m, 1000m
Women: 200 m, 500 m
K4–Four
seated Kayak - 1100cm - 30 KG - Men: 200m, 500m, 1000m
Women: 200 m, 500 m
Canoeing:
Category - Length of Boat - Weight of Boat - Events/Distances
C1-Single
kneeling canoe - 520cm - 16 KG - Men: 200m, 500m, 1000m
C2–Double
kneeling canoe - 650cm - 20 KG - Men: 200m, 500m, 1000m
kneeling canoe - 650cm - 20 KG - Men: 200m, 500m, 1000m
C4–Four
persons kneeling -
canoe 900cm - 30 KG - Men: 200m, 500m, 1000m
persons kneeling -
canoe 900cm - 30 KG - Men: 200m, 500m, 1000m
Growth of Kayaking and Canoeing in India:
Kayaking and canoeing which started in India in 1985 is a very young sport in India. The Special Area Games (SAG) spear headed the sport through Sports Authority of India centers at Allepy and Andaman and Nicobar for hand picked talented young boys and girls. The Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Department imported the then state of art Olympic class flat and white water Kayaks and Canoes in 1987. The quality of boats remained unchanged even till Barcelona Olympics. Mr. Asaf Mehmood, the then Asstt. Director Tourism is considered the father of this sport in J&K, who struggled hard for promoting this sport in Kashmir. Under his supervision the first two national championships were held in Srinagar.
Jammu And Kashmir State has in fact done pioneering work in introducing and developing this Olympic sport in India and is known as the father of modern Kayaking and Canoeing in India. First two National Championships were consecutively organized in Dal Lake, Srinagar in 1988 and 1989. Teams from Andaman and Nicobar, Kerala, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir took part in inaugural championships. Technique of boat handling, paddling and racing to the participants was imparted in Dal Lake itself, as only Sports Authority of India teams were fully trained under SAG scheme. Kashmir has produced many ace kayakers and canoeists. Zahoor Ahamd, Farooq Ahmad and Miss Bilkis etc have brought laurels for J&K after winning number of medals in the National level competitions. Zahoor has also represented India in an International level Championship. Miss Bilkis has become first Kashmiri lady Coach to lead Indian team in an International Championship.
It is heartening that the J&K Police has recently procured 24 modern kayaks/Canoes which has added to the fleet of boats available in Kashmir.
Escalation of Kayaking and Canoeing in Indian Universities:
On the persuasion of Kashmir University the kayaking and canoeing were recognized by the All India Inter-University Board of Sports as a competitive sporting discipline in summer 1998 in a meeting held at Annamalai University. Dr. Khurshid Ahmad Tarzan, Director Physical Education attended this historic meeting as a special invitee to brief the members about these sports and to get the proposal through by the Board.
It was a cherished desire of the Directorate of Physical Education, Kashmir University to organize the first-ever All India Inter-University Kayaking and Canoeing Championship in Srinagar but to their dismay the then Vice-Chancellor did not allow them to host it. The First All India Championship (Men and Women) was then organized by Kerala University at Sports Authority of India Water Sports Centre, Allepay in winter 1998. Just four Universities i.e. Kerala, Kumaun, Mahatma Gandhi and Osmania took part. There were only two teams in Women Section. Surprisingly the then Vice-Chancellor, Kashmir University did not even allow them to field its team in this historic Championship. Kerala University organized this inaugural championship at very low profile and competitions were held just in 8 events of 200 meters each. Kerala University lifted the championship trophy after winning all the eight gold medals followed by Osmania and Kumaun Universities.
In the year 1999 the All India Inter-University championship could not be conducted as none of the Indian Universities came forward to host the Championship. The second Inter-University championship was hosted by the pioneer Kashmir University on the waters of famous Dal Lake in October 2000, which coincided with the celebration of “Millennium Year”. The equipment was loaned from J&K Youth Services and Sports, which was transferred to them, from Tourism Department. The championship attracted five Universities i.e. Kerala, Kashmir, Kumaun, Barkatullah (Bhopal) and Osmania. After winning maximum medals the host Kashmir University lifted the Championship trophy. Competitions were held in all the 21 Olympic events
From 2001 to 2005 none of the Indian Universities could host this championship perhaps due to lack of infrastructure. After a gap of five years the Punjabi University, Patiala hosted 3rd Inter-University Championship at Sukhna Lake in Chandigarh, which attracted 21 Universities from all over the country. Two students of Kashmir University, Walayant Hussain Tinda and Vilayat Hussain Sofi won three bronze medals in C1 and C2 events. Both these boys were later awarded a cash prize of Rs. 5,000/- per person by Kashmir University. They also got national scholarships @ Rs.10, 200/- for their best performance.
4th All India Inter-University Championship in Srinagar:
After a gap of 7 long years the Kashmir University organized the 4th All India Inter-University championship at Nageen Lake in Srinagar last year. The University had received entries from 26 teams but unfortunately only 8 Men and 6 Women teams took part. This was possible only when the University had procured its own equipment worth Rs 9 lakhs. This time competitions were held in 24 Olympic events as C4 was first time introduced in the Inter- University competitions? The championship coincided with the celebration of “National Water Yewar-2007”. The message carried by the Championship was “Water is elixir of life-Save it, save it for future generations”. Kashmir University Canoeing team bagged 1 gold 2 silver and 3 bronze medals. Punjabi University Patiala lifted the overall champion trophy.
Revival of Kashmir University Lake Cub:
After purchasing modern and most sophisticated 24 kayaks / Canoes, 60 training class paddles, 14 imported paddles and some life jackets the Directorate of Physical Education, Kashmir University revived its Lake Club. The Club recently organized first-ever Inter-College Kayaking and Canoeing Championship at Nageen Water Sports Centre of Tourism Department in which 6 colleges and P.G Deptt of Law participated, which included Islamia, Amar Singh, Gandhi, Sopore and Bemina Colleges. Islamia College lifted the Championship trophy. The Championship received wide coverage in print and electronic media as it coincided with the celebration of “World Tourism Day” The students who performed extremely well in the said championship have been selected to represent Kashmir University in the forthcoming 5th All India Inter-University Championship to be held in Kerala during Autumn/winter this year. The selected team will undergo an intensive and rigorous coaching camp prior to its participation in the Inter-University championship.
Published in two parts. First part appeared on 12th October, 2008 and Second part appeared on 19th October, 2008 in Daily Rising Kashmir, Srinagar
