: Minister for Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, Transport, Youth Services and Sports, Satish Sharma, today attended the inaugural ceremony of the Zabarvan Legends Series 2025, Downhill Mountain Biking Championship, held at the picturesque Gulmarg.

Organized by Zabarvan, the event marks the first-ever international downhill mountain biking series to be hosted in Jammu & Kashmir, bringing the region into global focus as an emerging hub for adventure sports.

Addressing the gathering, Satish Sharma lauded the initiative, calling it a historic moment for J&K’s youth and sports sector. He said that events like the Zabarvan Legends Series not only promote adventure tourism but also encourage youth participation in new-age sports, opening new avenues of employment and recognition.

“This championship reflects the dynamic spirit of our youth and the limitless potential of Jammu & Kashmir as a global destination for adventure and outdoor sports,” the Minister said. He added that the Government is fully committed to supporting such initiatives and enhancing sports infrastructure across the Union Territory.

The Minister appreciated the efforts of Zabarvan Foundation for organizing the event and thanked the participating athletes for showcasing their talent in Gulmarg. He also interacted with young adventure sports enthusiasts and encouraged them to take up cycling and other outdoor sports as a career.

The event witnessed participation from world-renowned mountain biking athletes including Samuel Hill, 8-time World Champion, Matej Charvat (ranked 5th globally), and Asian Champion Dan Chiang, among other international and national riders from Iran Brazil Czech Republic Taiwan, Australia, Indonesia, besides many states of India including Jammu and Kashmir.