Alpine skier Aanchal Thakur has bagged second medal for India in international skiing event held at European country Montenegro on Thursday. She is the only winter sports athlete from India to have achieved this feat. Aanchal, who is struggling to qualify for Winter Olympics 2022, had two races on Thursday at Kolasin ski resorts during International Ski Federation (FIS) Alpine Ski Jamaican Championship. She bagged bronze medal in the first race in women alpine skiing category. She told over a phone call that she was expecting even better performance in the second race. The medal ceremony will be held in the late evening (Montenegro time). Aanchal Thakur will compete in four more races at Kolasin, Montenegro, from December 27 to 30. The young athlete is hoping for gold or silver in the remaining races. “The season started very late for me and my brother Himanshu this year due to many reasons. We could not participate in some of the FIS events to earn the required FIS points to qualify for the Olympics. Earlier we trained in Austria and then in Sweden. From Sweden, we headed to Montenegro for this event. My first race today was satisfactory and I could finish at third place. I’ve a few more races in my hand. Now I’m eying gold or silver,” Aanchal said. Arif Khan, who has already qualified for Olympics, is also participating in the competitions. Since only one male and one female from each country were allowed to participate in the event, Aanchal’s brother Himanshu could not compete in the official races. Aanchal’s father Roshan Thakur said Aanchal has made him and entire nation feel proud. “She is performing well despite limited resources and weak winter sports infrastructure in the country. The season for both Aanchal and Himanshu started very late this
Alpine skier Aanchal Thakur has bagged second medal for India in international skiing event held at European country Montenegro on Thursday. She is the only winter sports athlete from India to have achieved this feat. Aanchal, who is struggling to qualify for Winter Olympics 2022, had two races on Thursday at Kolasin ski resorts during
As the world is observing International Mountain Day 2020 on Friday with the theme Mountain Biodiversity, the Himalayan mountains in Himachal are breathing freely, at least this year, due to Coviv-19 pandemic. According to the UN, environmental changes have posed great challenges to the mountain people around the world who are dependent on the mountains for livelihood. While precious flora and fauna in the mountains witnessed least human disturbance this year, scientists claimed that Covid-19 imposed lockdown helped unprecedented growth of the flora at many Himalayan regions.Meanwhile, with almost no commercial mountaineering activities this year, the livelihood of thousands of people is at stake. Meanwhile, with almost no commercial mountaineering activities this year, the livelihood of thousands of people is at stake. The mountaineering industry of Himachal, which includes climbing expeditions to peaks, long and short treks, rock climbing and day hiking, is paused since March when nationwide lockdown was imposed. The peak mountaineering activities begin in May and last till November.A large number of foreigners also visit the state for these eco-friendly activities. This year mountains had a pin-drop silence. There was no one to climb the peaks, no new attempts were made to climb virgin peaks, and there were no trekking or rock climbing activities. A large number of foreigners also visit the state for these eco-friendly activities. This year mountains had a pin-drop silence. There was no one to climb the peaks, no new attempts were made to climb virgin peaks, and there were no trekking or rock climbing activities. According to Adventure Tour Operators Association president Roshan Thakur, thousands of people including operators, guides, porters, cooks and helpers are associated with this industry only from Himachal.“Most of them could not earn a single rupee this year. Some of us restarted work in October but it was
As the world is observing International Mountain Day 2020 on Friday with the theme Mountain Biodiversity, the Himalayan mountains in Himachal are breathing freely, at least this year, due to Coviv-19 pandemic. According to the UN, environmental changes have posed great challenges to the mountain people around the world who are dependent on the mountains
दिल में कुछ कर गुजरने की तमन्ना हो तो कोई भी बाधा मंजिल के आड़े नहीं आ सकती। इस बात को सार्थक कर दिखाया है अंतरराष्ट्रीय स्कीयर बन चुकी मनाली के एक छोटे से गांव बुरूआ की आंचल ने। नन्हीं आंचल जब नंगे पांव बर्फ पर बेखौफ भाग जाया करती थी और मां के बार-बार टोकने पर भी माईनस तापमान में अठखेलियां करने से बाज नहीं आती थी। भूख-प्यास सब कुछ भूल जाती थी। आंचल दूसरे बच्चों की तरह लकड़ी के तीन फट्टे जोड़कर आईस बन चुकी बर्फ पर फिसलने के बचपन के आनंद को कभी नहीं भुला सकती। गांव के स्कूल सरस्वती विद्या मंदिर में प्रारम्भिक शिक्षा प्राप्त करने के दौरान वह कई बार स्कूल से छुट्टी के बाद सीधे घर नहीं आती थी, बल्कि बस्ते और किताबों की परवाह किए बगैर बर्फ की ढलानों की ओर चली जाती और देर सांय ही घर वापिस लौटती। कई बार आंचल के पिता को उसे घर वापिस लाने के लिए स्वयं जाना पड़ता था। हालांकि, आंचल के पिता भी साहसिक खेल स्कीइंग के काफी शौकीन रहे हैं जिसके चलते वह अपनी बेटी की जिद्द पर कदापि उसे फटकार नहीं लगाते थे। आंचल अब आठवीं कक्षा में हो चुकी थी और बिना बताए चुपके से एक दिन वह अपने पिता का स्कीइंग सैट लेकर बर्फ की ढलानों पर चली गई। चूंकि वह अभी स्कीइंग सैट को संभालने के काबिल नहीं थी जिसके कारण उसके पैरों और टांगों में अनेक जगहों पर चोटें आई। उसे अच्छे से स्कीइंग सैट को लगाना भी नहीं आ रहा था। पिता को यह सब देखकर एक बार बुरा अवश्य लगा, लेकिन वह आंचल के जुनून से बेखबर भी नहीं थे। वह समझ चुके थे कि आंचल अब रूकने वाली नहीं है और डांट-फटकार तो फिजूल है। आंचल के पिता रोशन लाल ने उस दिन के बाद स्वयं
दिल में कुछ कर गुजरने की तमन्ना हो तो कोई भी बाधा मंजिल के आड़े नहीं आ सकती। इस बात को सार्थक कर दिखाया है अंतरराष्ट्रीय स्कीयर बन चुकी मनाली के एक छोटे से गांव बुरूआ की आंचल ने। नन्हीं आंचल जब नंगे पांव बर्फ पर बेखौफ भाग जाया करती थी और मां के बार-बार
