Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu inaugurated the second edition of the Tawangchu Tides International Kayaking Championship on the Tawangchu River, featuring over 100 athletes from India and abroad. He expressed pride in hosting the event and acknowledged various organizations for their support. Khandu recognized Bilquis Mir, India’s first female Olympic jury member in kayaking, as an inspiration for young athletes and emphasized the potential of the state’s rivers for kayaking. He mentioned a proposal by the Arunachal Kayaking & Canoeing Association to develop training hubs around five river basins and committed to establishing more training centers with the Indian Kayaking & Canoeing Association’s assistance. The Chief Minister also noted significant improvement in Arunachal Pradesh’s sporting performance, as the state now ranks second in the Northeast according to the 38th National Games rankings, attributing this success to national leadership and investments in youth development and sports infrastructure.
