Skiing: Four int’l events planned for season

Malam Jabba and Naltar to play hosts; SFP expecting good turnout

KARACHI: Pakistan will be hosting four International Skiing Federation (FIS) events in the upcoming season at Naltar and Malam Jabba, the Ski Federation of Pakistan (SFP) has revealed.

With the improved facilities, from installing a chairlift to getting a new snow-pressing machine, the SFP is looking to have at least three to four countries coming to the races in Gilgit-Baltistan and Swat valley.

The first event will take place in Malam Jabba from January 25, while the second will be held in Naltar from January 31, with both events featuring athletes in giant slalom and slalom races.



“We’ll be hosting the races and we have sent out the invitations too,” SFP Secretary Qasawar Abbas Naqvi told The Express Tribune.

“We’ve invited the Italian, Turkish, Ukrainian and Iranian teams so far. We are hoping for a good turnout.”

Naqvi further said that the return of international skiing will boost Pakistani skiers’ confidence.



“These international races are important; our skiers will benefit the most as they will be competing at the 2017 Asian Winter Games in Japan.

“The FIS races will give them the needed practice at home and will prepare them for bigger events,” said Naqvi.

It will be after 11 years that Malam Jabba is hosting any event as the resort was sealed due to the operation against terrorism in 2007 and then in 2009.

“This is the first time Malam Jabba will have an international skiing event but the main races will take place in Naltar,” added Naqvi.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 16^th, 2016.

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