3 skiing competitions to be held at Naltar in Feb

ISLAMABAD, Feb 2 (APP): Three national skiing competitions will be held at Naltar (Gilgit), starting from Sunday.

These competitions include Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) Ski Championship (Feb. 8-10), Shah Khan Ski Cup (Feb. 11-15) and National Ski Championship (Feb. 13-15).

Skiers from affiliated units of Ski Federation of Pakistan will participate in these all-Pakistan ski events.

Skiing has lately become the rapidly-growing winter sport in the country with Ski Federation of Pakistan, led by Air Marshal Shahid Lateef, grooming promising skiers to represent Pakistan in the Winter Olympics next year.

A group of eight Pakistani skiers is currently in Austria on a training tour during which they will also take part in competitive races.

The group includes Muhammad Abbas who has the richest potential to become Pakistan’s first-ever Winter Olympian.

At least 120 “FIS” points are needed for a skier to automatically qualify for the skiing events of Winter Olympics. Abbas is likely to obtain those many FIS (Federation de International Skiing) points, SFP officials said. The Winter Olympic Games 2010 are being held at Vancouver (Canada).