Kayaking and Canoeing is catching up fast among local College and University youths, which is most fascinating, thrilling and scintillating among all paddle sports, writes Obaid Yousuf
There are different kinds of paddle sports like rafting, traditional boating, Canoe Polo, dragon boating, kayaking, canoeing, and rowing etc. But I found Kayaking and canoeing the most difficult among all. These are the sports which depend on ones balance and strength. For a beginner it is very difficult to control the boat as the kayaks and canoes are very delicate and are very narrow and light weight. For rowing these boats one has to learn the balancing first. Unless one masters the balancing it is not possible for him to even put his feet in the boat. The sports, like snow and water skiing, snowboarding, ice and roller skating, gymnastics and cycling etc, also depend on balancing but the kayaking and canoeing as I observed are most complicated one. Though I have represented the state in many junior national Snow skiing and Roller Skating championships and have done water ski course as well, yet I found Kayaking very challenging and scintillating one. A trainer first teaches ground exercises of boat handling, paddle holding, skills of different strokes and then the novice is taken to water where he is taught maintaining balance and paddling techniques. Before venturing into the water body it is mandatory for every kayaker and canoer to learn life saving and rescue work. In the past I have paddled the traditional boats on Dal and Nageen lakes but I experienced that handling a modern fiberglass kayak or canoe is very difficult task. It was really a new experience for me when I learned to sit in the boat and paddle around.
It was in September this year, when my College Physical Director, Mr. Abdul Rashid inspired and encouraged me to this healthy sport. I and my class mate, Aaqib Wani, were nominated for a training camp in Kayaking and Canoeing, organized by Kashmir University Lake Club at Nageen Lake. It was first camp of its kind, organized by the University after procuring about 24 modern kayaks and canoes. The training was very rigorous and I had to exercise my muscles a lot. While learning the balancing I was dipping in the water more than fifty times every day but did not give up. It was really hard to get in and out of the boat in the water once it capsized.
The University Aquatic Coach, Mr. Mohamad Yousuf took lot of pains in teaching us the complex skills of this scintillating sport. There were only two student from our College while as the majority of boys were from Islamia, Amar Singh and Gandhi Memorial Colleges. There were also few trainees from Sopore College and Post-Graduate Department of Law. The Amar Singh College and Islamia College students were already trained and had bagged some medals in the last two All India Inter-University Kayaking and Canoeing Championships, held at Chandigarh and Srinagar in the year 2006 and 2007 respectively. They were just polishing and recapitulating their techniques under the supervision of University Coach.
On the conclusion of the camp the University Lake Club organized first-ever Inter-College Kayaking and Canoeing Championship at Nageen Lake on 24th and 25th October, 2008. Since this sport has not yet gained popularity in the local Colleges only six teams took part in this historic Championship. Islamia College won maximum medals and lifted the champion’s trophy. After putting my hard efforts I managed to win a Gold medal in 1000 Mtr. K1 race and silver medal in WWK1 500 mtr. The competition was very tough and it was difficult to beat the giants of Islamia and Amar Singh Colleges.
It is learnt that the University has spent an amount of rupees twelve lakhs for raising the modern kayaking equipment last year. It is perhaps only facility centre of its kind for college and university students in the valley. The boats are kept in Tourism hanger at Nageen which is not a proper place for storing this sophisticated and very expensive equipment because the hanger here is a defective one and is badly damaging the boats. The tourism hanger has narrow shelves where one has to drag out the delicate boats from the shed. Some boats have already developed scratches on its smooth surface and some rudders are detached. The University should have first constructed the shed and then purchased the boats. I wish my College could also procure some kayaks and canoes to make our esteemed college a facility centre for its student.
In reward to my better performance in the Inter-College Kayaking and Canoeing championship I was selected for pre-All India Inter-University kayaking and Canoeing Championship coaching camp which was held in the month of October. The twelve selected campers were given intensive coaching and taught finest points of the sport. Due to early snow fall and cold climatic conditions the camp was abandoned. The forthcoming All India Inter-University championship is going to be held in Kerala University during winter. Kashmir University has already sent its entry to organizing University for its participation. The team comprising of about 12 students of different colleges stand selected. The team is confident of winning number of medals in the said championship this year I am thrilled for being selected for this prestigious championship. This will be my first participation in any Inter-University Championships, though I have participated in many Junior National Championships in the past.
Competitive Events and Categories:
K1- single seat kayak, weight 12 kgs, length 520 cm. Competitive events are 200 m. 500 m. 1000 m for men and for women 200 and 500 m; K2-double seat kayak, weight 18 kgs, length 650 cm. Competitive events same as in K1; K4-four seated Kayak, weight 30 kgs, length, 1100 cm. Competitive events are same as in K1 and K2; C1-single kneeling canoe, weight 16 kgs, length 520 cm. Competitive events are 200, 500 and 1000 mtrs for men only; C2-double kneeling canoe, weight 20 kgs, length 650 cm. Competitive events same as in C1; C4-four persons kneeling canoe, weight 30 kgs, length 900 cms. Competitive events same as in C1 and C2 events.
At the end I admit that there are hardships, hard work and hazards in kayaking and canoeing but in return it builds confidence, courage, coordination, character and co-operation. Take opportunity of stealing these elements by joining the University Lake Club.
About Author:
Obaid Yousuf is a B.Com student of Govt. Degree College, Bemina and is simultaneously pursuing GNIIT (Software Engineering) from National Institute of Information Technology. In his leisure time he writes articles on sports and social issues. Photography is also his hobby. Feedback at: ubaidyusuf@hotmail.comThe article was published in Rising Kashmir on 9th December, 2008
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