SRINAGAR, Aug. 31 -- Eighteen-year-old Mohsin Ali had been earning accolades ever since he set the Dal Lake ablaze by clinching gold in the 1,000m kayaking event at the inaugural Khelo India Water Sports Festival (KIWSF) held here recently.
On Sunday, Ali became a local hero after receiving a special mention from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who praised the Srinagar boy for his achievement in the 125th edition of his monthly radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat'.
Organised from August 21-23 at the iconic Dal Lake, the KIWSF featured six sporting disciplines - rowing, canoeing, kayaking, water skiing, shikara race, and dragon boat race - in which 28 states and Union territories took part.
Ali now has his sights fixed on the ultimate goal - an O...