News DeskDubai, UAE – The Chinar Sports Festival, a novel initiative by the Kashmiri community in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), is set to kick off in the first week of the new year. The 45-day extravaganza aims to foster unity among the Kashmiri diaspora and raise awareness about the environmental challenges facing the Chinar Valley due to climate change.
Raja Asad Khalid, Chairman of Chinar Sports Festival UAE 2024, announced the launch of the ‘Chinar Bachao Campaign’ during a press conference in Dubai. This campaign is dedicated to protecting the Chinar Valley, and inspired by the recent World Environment Summit COP28 in Dubai, the ‘Save Chinar Campaign’ will be initiated, involving the planting of Chinar trees from Srinagar to Muzaffarabad.
Highlighting the significance of the festival, Raja Asad Khalid emphasized its role beyond sports, serving as a platform for Kashmiris on both sides to get in touch. The festival, previously known as Chinar Super League, has been expanded to include cricket, badminton, and volleyball competitions.
Expressing gratitude to the UAE leadership, Raja Asad acknowledged the support of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum for their vision. The Chinar Sports Festival will not only be held in the UAE but will also witness a simultaneous Chinar tree plantation drive in Kashmir and the UAE.
Sardar Ayaz of Silver City, a key partner of the festival, highlighted their commitment to environmental sustainability. Integrating streetlights with Silver City projects and installing solar charging stations at Islamabad airport for eco-friendly vehicles align with the festival’s motto of saving the Chinar leaf.
The 16-team Chinar Super League and the Chinar Premier League T10 cricket tournaments are scheduled from February 9 to February 18 in Sharjah and Ajman. Additionally, a badminton tournament with 50 participating teams will commence on January 6 in Dubai, followed by a volleyball tournament starting on January 13.
As the glaciers in the Kashmir region face rapid melting, the Chinar Sports Festival endeavors to address climate change threats by planting trees in both Kashmir and the UAE, emphasizing the festival’s commitment to environmental conservation and community engagement.
