Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu inaugurated the second edition of the Tawangchu Tides International Kayaking Championship on the Tawangchu River in the Himalayas, with over 100 athletes participating from India and abroad. He expressed pride in the event, acknowledging the contributions of various organizations including the Arunachal Olympic Association and the Indian Army. Khandu highlighted the inspirational presence of Bilquis Mir, India’s first female Olympic jury member in kayaking, urging the championship to inspire future champions. He discussed the suitability of Arunachal Pradesh’s rivers for kayaking and a proposal from the Arunachal Kayaking & Canoeing Association (AKCA) to develop five river basins into training hubs, which has been submitted. Khandu committed to establishing more training centres in collaboration with technical experts and the Indian Kayaking & Canoeing Association (IKCA) to foster the sport. He noted Arunachal Pradesh’s rising profile in national sports, ranking second in the Northeast according to the 38th National Games and expressing confidence in future improvements.
