CHITRAL:
Ice hockey, curling and skating are winter sports that most Pakistanis often consider a pipe dream, but residents of Shandur and surrounding areas of Choitral no longer have to feel left out.
For the first time in the history of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, ‘winter sports’ or ‘ice sports’ have been started in the Harchin area of Upper Chitral.
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority in collaboration with Pakistan Winter Sports Federation, Upper Chitral District Administration and Chitral Scouts is promoting winter sports.
Under the supervision of the authority, the final competitions of the Shandur Ice Sports tournament will be held at Shandur Top.
Competitions have included ice hockey, curling and speed skating. The finals of these tournaments will be held on December 28 at the top of the now frozen Shandur Lake.
The male and female competitors will be seen in action at the world’s highest polo field, Shandur Top, 12,800 feet above sea level.
Training sessions for the event began in Harchin, Upper Chitral. More than 100 boys and girls will participate in the Shandur Ice Sports Challenge competitions.
Athletes from Gabor Garam Chashma, Bonni, Madaqalisht, Parwak, Mastuj, Yarkhunlasht, Harchin and Kalash participate in the Shandur Ice Sports Challenge competitions.
In the first phase, the competitions began in Harchin, Upper Chitral. More than 40 women are part of the contest.
Equipment for the event is provided by the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority.
