Srinagar, Aug. 21 -- From rowing a Shikara at Dal Lake to paddling his way to national glory, Mohsin Ali Kand has come a long way. Mohsin made Jammu and Kashmir proud, winning the first gold medal of the Khelo India Water Sports Festival 2025 on Thursday.

Seventeen-year-old Mohsin won gold in the 1000-metre men's Kayaking event, clocking 4:12:717s. It was a career highlight for the youngster.

As Mohsin stepped out of Dal Lake, he was greeted by a jubilant home crowd, even as he failed to hold back tears of joy and hugged his coach Bilquis Mir, a former international and an Olympic judge.

It was an overwhelming moment for Mohsin, a 12th standard student of SP Higher Secondary School, who, to fulfil his dream of representing India at the...