Srinagar: Kashmir’s Kayaking star Bilquis Mir was honored with DEVI award in New Delhi on Tuesday for her dynamism and innovation in the field of water sports.
DEVI Award is a women’s award given to the 10-super achievers for dynamism and innovation.
Mir, who has a coaching diploma from Budapest, Hungary, started Kayaking and Canoeing in the year 1996 and has represented Jammu and Kashmir for 10 years in the National Water Sports Games.
Mir is the first water sports coach from the Valley who was appointed as a coach for Indian Kayaking and Canoeing team from 2010 to 2015. She also went to Japan with her team but could not qualify for the Olympics.
She became the only Indian among 20 Asians who was picked up by the Asian Canoe Federation team as water sports judge for the Asian Games which were held in Indonesia this year.
Talking to The Kashmir Monitor after receiving award, Mir said people use to criticize her but she proved that women too can excel in fields dominated by men. “People use to criticize me but my mother supported me and results are in front of everyone,” She said,
She dedicated her award to the girls from Valley who want to do something in sports.
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