The Gulmarg SnowShoe Race 2026, a first-of-its-kind 5-kilometre high-altitude SnowShoe competition in India, was successfully held on Sunday at the world-famous Gulmarg Ski Resort.
Nearly 100 athletes from across Kashmir participated in the event, competing in multiple categories including Senior Men Open, Junior Boys, Senior Women, Junior Girls, and Sub-Junior Boys and Girls.
The race, conducted at an altitude of over 9,000 feet, tested the endurance and technical skills of athletes in extreme winter conditions, marking a significant milestone in the promotion of SnowShoe sports in the country.
MLA Tangmarg, Farooq Ahmad Shah was the chief guest on the occasion. Other dignitaries present included CEO Gulmarg Development Authority, Assistant Director Tourism Tahir, President SnowShoe Federation of India Mir Muddasar, Vice President J&K SnowShoe Association Arif Laigaroo, and General Secretary J&K SnowShoe Association Dr Altaf-ur-Rehman.
Addressing the gathering, Farooq Ahmad Shah lauded the organisers and highlighted the growing popularity of SnowShoe sports in Kashmir.
“SnowShoe is a much-needed winter sport. In a short span of time, the association and federation have developed it into a premier winter discipline. I will ensure that SnowShoe is included again in the Khelo India Winter Games programme after being excluded from the fourth and fifth editions. This will greatly benefit J&K athletes, as the sport is largely dominated by local players,” he said
President of the SnowShoe Federation of India, Mir Muddasar, spoke about the historical roots and future relevance of the sport.
“SnowShoe is a discipline with a history spanning thousands of years and is also a sport of the future, especially in the context of changing weather patterns and evolving winter sports,” he said.
Officials of the J&K SnowShoe Association also underscored the rapid growth of the sport and its vast potential to establish Kashmir as a national hub for SnowShoe competitions.
The event concluded with a prize distribution ceremony, where winners across various categories were felicitated by the chief guest.
Dr. Nazar emerged victorious in the Senior Men Open category, followed by Ishfaq Ahmed, Waseem Raja, Naveed and Abrar. In the Junior Boys category, Asif Teli secured first place, followed by Muzamil Manzoor and Amir Shabir. Shaista Mehraj claimed the top position in the Senior Women category.
In the Sub-Junior Girls category, Zaira Laigaroo finished first, followed by Aisha Ishtaq, Khateeba, Khadijah Shah and Fatima Shah. Affan Asif topped the Sub-Junior Boys category, with Bhat Mohd Qais securing the next position.
The successful conduct of the Gulmarg SnowShoe Race 2026 marked another milestone in the promotion of SnowShoe sports in Kashmir, reinforcing the region’s position as a growing epicentre of winter sports in India.
