J&K's female athletes shine in cycling event in Haryana
Srinagar, Jan 12: A group of cyclists from North Kashmir’s Baramulla district have excelled at an event in Haryana, underscoring the growing prominence of female athletes from the region.
A sports official said cyclists Ulfat Mushtaq, Mehak Mushtaq, Sofia Hilal, Sobiya Manzoor, and Hoor-i-ein Lone delivered impressive performances at the Khelo India Asmita Women’s League held in Kurukshetra, Haryana.
According to the official, Ulfat Mushtaq secured 10th place in the 30 km Time Trial and finished 11th in the 60 km Mass Start.
Mehak Mushtaq placed 12th in the 30 km Time Trial and showed remarkable resilience by finishing 13th in the 60 km Mass Start despite suffering a crash. Sofia Hilal and Sobiya Manzoor recorded standout results, finishing 7th and 8th respectively, while Hoor-i-ein Lone added to the team’s achievements with a 16th-place finish.
In a related development aimed at sustaining this athletic momentum, the Jammu and Kashmir administration has launched a major initiative to strengthen sports infrastructure across the Union Territory. This follows a high-level meeting between J&K Sports Minister Satish Sharma and senior national sports officials.
Minister Sharma said he held detailed discussions with Rohan Jaitley, Chairman of the BCCI Infrastructure Committee and President of the Delhi & District Cricket Association. The talks focused on concrete plans for the construction of new cricket stadiums in Jammu and Kashmir.
Emphasizing the “immense sporting talent” in the Union Territory, Sharma stressed the need for world-class cricketing infrastructure to nurture young players and promote a strong sports culture. The proposed stadiums are expected to provide modern training facilities and position J&K as a potential host for national and international cricket events.
The minister also highlighted Jammu and Kashmir’s wide potential in sectors such as start-ups, handicrafts, agri-based industries, tourism, and IT-enabled services, reaffirming the government’s commitment to creating a supportive ecosystem for youth-led enterprises.
“The ideas emerging from forums like the Viksit Bharat Dialogue are crucial to realizing the vision of an Aatmanirbhar and Viksit Bharat, ensuring inclusive growth across all regions,” Sharma said, while commending the organizers for providing a national platform for youth engagement. (With inputs from KNS)
Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that this was the first time women cyclists had represented J&K at a national-level event. In fact, a team comprising Zoobiya Tariq and Farah Ahad had represented the erstwhile state at the 26th National Road Cycling Championship in 2021.
