2nd Cas Open Ski Championship concluded

Lahore: The 2^nd Cas Open Ski Championship concluded here today. Air Marshal Syed Athar Hussain Bokhari, Vice Chief of the Air Staff who is also President Ski Federation of Pakistan (SFP) was the chief guest at the occasion. Advisor to Chief Minister Gilgit Baltistan for Tourism, Sports and Culture Madam Sadia Danish also attended the closing ceremony. The chief guest awarded medals and certificates to the winning ski players.

While addressing the gathering the chief guest said, “The conduct of the CAS Naltar Open Ski Championship is a symbol of the efforts the Ski Federation is making in collaboration with the Pakistan Air Force for the promotion of Skiing in Naltar area. This competition is exclusively aimed at providing the local youth an equal opportunity in excelling in the sport”.

He further said, “I am deeply impressed by your performance and sincerely appreciate your interest in the sport. Snow skiing is, indeed, a rare and exciting sport, and those of you who are the natives of Naltar and adjoining areas are very fortunate, as you have the opportunity to enjoy skiing throughout the season which is not the case for children of the other parts of the country.  We all appreciate that this sport along with the thrill of speed, excitement and adventure provides an opportunity to promote tourism and boost the economy of the area. I am glad to inform you that owing to efforts of SFP, PAF and others, skiing is now open to general public and is no more an exclusive monopoly of the privileged few”.

He further said, “The keen interest shown by the youth of the area will definitely be significant in getting the game its due place and importance in Pakistan. In this regard the skiing facility at Naltar provides a competitive setting to our athletes.  I hope that to improve the infrastructure, the Govt of Gilgit Baltistan will keep on supporting the Ski Federation of Pakistan. I have visited Naltar in the past as well. However, today it gives me immense pleasure to see that the youth has realised that through this sport they can excel in the International Competitions and bring a good name to Pakistan. When I look back, I see the athletes of Naltar bringing glory to the nation in competitions abroad, be it the Olympic Winter Games of 2010, 1^st South Asian Ski Championship, the Dream Program in Korea or the Olympic Winter Games of 2014. I hope that the same attitude of the children will bring more laurels for the Country”.

Regarding the facilities, the ongoing project for up gradation of the Ski Slope will provide you with an exposure to a challenging environment. I would also like to use this opportunity to laud the efforts of Shah Khan Ski School Naltar in producing international standard skiers. I commend the PAF on achieving these milestones. Moreover, the installation of chairlift, and the overall upgraded ski infrastructure at Naltar would ensure a useful activitythroughout the year for the under-privileged area of Gilgit-Baltistan. This wouldattract local and international tourism followed by socio-economic uplift of the area.

He expressed his satisfaction and said, “With provision of educational opportunities, the youth of Naltar Valley will get good opportunities in skiing as well as in education. I assure you that efforts being made by SFP and PAF to provide educational facilities in Naltar will grow in magnitude. I hope that all required help would be extended by the Government of Gilgit Baltistan. In the end, I congratulate the athletes who have won medals in this championship. It was a target that was pursued vigorously.

The winners must know that retaining a medal or a title is tougher than winning it. I am sure our athletes will maintain the hard-earned prestige. Those who could not win in this championship must not lose heart as success is not always in winning, it is invariably in participation. I especially felicitate the medal winners of the 2^nd Chief of the Air Staff Naltar Open Ski Championship”.