From paddling a Shikara on Dal Lake to clinching national glory, Mohsin Ali Kand has made Jammu and Kashmir proud by winning the first gold medal of the Khelo India Water Sports Festival 2025 on Thursday.
Seventeen-year-old Mohsin secured gold in the 1000-metre men’s Kayaking event, finishing with a time of 4:12:717s — a career-defining moment for the young athlete.
As he stepped out of Dal Lake, Mohsin was greeted by a jubilant crowd, tears of joy streaming down his face as he hugged his coach, Bilquis Mir, a former international athlete and Olympic judge.
Mohsin, a 12th standard student at SP Higher Secondary School, balances his training with rowing a Shikara to earn money for his diet, all while supporting his family. The son of Fida Hussain Kand, a lower-middle-class carpenter, he credited his father for nurturing his passion for water sports despite economic hardships.
“Water sports are my passion, and I dream of representing India internationally. To achieve this, I row a Shikara, help my family, and fund my training diet,” Mohsin said.
A resident of Kand Mohalla on Dal Lake, Mohsin began his water sports journey at seven. He also acknowledged the Jammu and Kashmir Kayaking and Canoeing Association for providing essential training and infrastructure.
Despite limited participation in national events and modest resources, Mohsin overcame hurdles to triumph over athletes with more experience and international exposure. “Professional water sports require a protein-rich, carbohydrate-rich, and electrolyte-rich diet, which is hard for me to afford,” he admitted.
Mohsin’s determination and dream of competing at the Asian Games, World Championships, and Olympics drive him forward. Practicing in Dal Lake’s high-altitude waters has helped him develop stamina superior to athletes from the plains.
With his gold medal at the Khelo India Water Sports Festival 2025, Mohsin Ali Kand has not only made his state proud but also set the stage for a promising international career.
