J&K govt. ‘drags feet’ on relieving water sports expert Bilquis Mir to train national team for Asian Games
The Hindu
J&K government delays Bilquis Mir's coaching role for Asian Games, raising concerns over support for local sports icons.
Even as Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah felicitated the J&K cricket team for winning their maiden Ranji Trophy, another sporting icon from the region, Bilquis Mir — who earned a sobriquet of “aqua queen” after becoming the first Indian woman on the Paris Olympics jury in 2024 — says she has been left distraught over the lack of government support to coach the national team for the 2026 Asian Games.
The Indian Kayaking & Canoeing Association (IKCA) on February 3, 2026, wrote to J&K Sports Minister Satish Sharma to spare “Ms. Bilquis Mir as coach for the national team preparation for the upcoming Asian Games 2026”.
“Ms. Mir has vast and distinguished experience in the field of kayaking and canoeing. She has earlier served as the National Coach of the Indian Team and has made significant contributions to the development of the sport at both national and international levels. Considering her technical expertise, international exposure, and proven coaching capabilities, her involvement in the National Coaching Camp will greatly strengthen the team’s preparation and enhance its performance in the forthcoming Asian Games,” said Prashant Kushwaha, president of the IKCA, in the letter.
In the larger interest of sports and the nation, the association requested that the services of Ms. Mir “may kindly be made available”.
“Without citing any reason, I am not being relieved to serve the nation. What are my sins? All I did was coaching hundreds of local men and women in water sports, who later made it big in several water sports games,” Ms. Mir told The Hindu.
Ms. Mir said she knocked on the doors of the Chief Minister’s Office and the Sports Ministry but received no response.
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