RR organises horse race

STATE TIMES NEWS
BHADARWAH: Army on Thursday organised a Horse Racing Competition at Padrigali meadow on Bhadarwah-Chamba interstate road, 35Km from Bhadarwah town.
Rector Bhadarwah Campus Prof G.M Bhat was the Chief Guest and SP Operation Doda Ravinder Pal Singh was the Guest of Honour, while Commanding Officer (CO) RR based at Bhadarwah presided over the event.
The proceedings of the sporting event were conducted by Arif Rana.
Rector Bhadarwah Campus along with SP Operation Doda and CO RR inaugurated the day long programme.
“We are happy with the way the Army is helping us. They organised a horse race especially for us, giving us an opportunity to laugh and play as we live in such a difficult place where even survival is difficult for us. It has been organising horse racing event for the past few years here. The Army encourages us by providing trophies and cash rewards,” said a Horse rider, Mukhtiyaar Dhakad from Kota top.
In all, 200 horse riders from Padri Gali, Bhaal Padri, Kainthi Dhar, Lalu Pani, Katari, Dodu Nallah, Bani Batoli, Kilru Dhar, Kota Top, Daraie and Bach Dhar beside some riders from Khajjair of Himachal Pradesh participated, where their raw talent and remarkable performance was highly appreciated by the spectators. The riders competed in 16 heats where 32 riders won and entered into semifinals.
After defeating their rivals, eight riders competed in finals, where Fakhar Ali of Khajjair Chamba won the race and Rs 20,000 cash prize. The first and second runner-up won Rs 15,000 and Rs 10,000 respectively.
“In our every Sadhbhavana endeavour, we give special attention for people living in high altitude meadows, be it education, medical or veterinary camps and we have even formulated special sports exclusively for these nomadic tribes,” said CO RR Bhadarwah.
“We are happy with the way the Army is helping us in every field of life. They organised Horse Race Competition for us in such a difficult place where even survival is difficult for us. By organising this event Army give a boost to our traditional sport and also encouraged us by rewarding us with trophies, cash prize. This will definitely go a long way to promote our culture,” said winner, Fakhar Ali from Khajjair Chamba (HP).
Beside horse race, Sack Race competition for nomadic children was also organised, followed by a free Medical Camp, in which special team of Army doctors examined the patients and provided them medicines free of cost.