PHOTO: FILE
KARACHI: The Ski Federation of Pakistan (SFP) confirmed on Monday that Ukrainian and Turkish skiers will feature in the Karakoram Alpine Ski Cup, which is scheduled to get under way on February 12 at Naltar, Gilgit-Baltistan.
SFP secretary Air Commodore Qaswar Abbas Naqvi said that the ski federations of both countries have sent their consent for participating in the event, which will also feature Pakistan’s top skiers.
Previously, Pakistan had a difficult time reestablishing the sport in the country after the Swat operation back in 2009, during which the Malam Jabba resort came under attack.
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However, the SFP has gone great lengths to get the Naltar slope ready, which was also graded by the International Ski Federation (FIS) last year in order to bringing back the international events to Pakistan.
“The SFP had sent the invitations to different Asian countries including Iran and India too. So far, we’ve received confirmations from Ukraine and Turkey,” Naqvi told The Express Tribune.
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“We are trying to get more countries on board; in fact, we’ve pressed the Sri Lankan and Iranian ski federations [to confirm as well]. But for now, even the participation of just these two countries will help. We will be finalising the programme for them soon.”
The events will be held in Malam Jabba, Naltar and Rattu, the slopes where the World Snow Day was celebrated on Sunday.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 19th, 2016.
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