Asian Games 2026: J&K govt. allows Mir Bilquis to travel after SC intervention; to coach Indian kayaking, canoeing team

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Bilquis Mir, who once served as the secretary of the J&K Water Sports Kayaking and Canoeing Association, earned her the sobriquet of ‘Aqua Queen’ of Kashmir for training local boys and girls in different water sports since 1998.  | Photo Credit: Imran Nissar

In line with recent directions by the Supreme Court, the Jammu and Kashmir government on Tuesday (September 15, 2026) granted permission to Bilquis Mir, a Physical Education Teacher, to discharge her duties as the chief coach of the Indian National Kayaking and Canoeing team for the Asian Games in Japan.

“Ms. Mir, Physical Education Teacher, is hereby accorded the requisite limited No Objection Certificate (NOC)/permission and is relieved for the purpose of joining and discharging the remaining assignment as Coach/Chief Coach of the Indian National Kayaking and Canoeing Team and for accompanying and assisting the Indian National Team in connection with the Asian Games, 2026,” read the order, issued by the Department of Youth Services and Sports.

However, the official order said the permission shall remain “operative only for the period reasonably necessary for completion of the Asian Games 2026 assignment and connected official travel”.

“No permission is granted under this order for any private foreign travel or for any travel or engagement unconnected with the national sporting assignment covered by the judgment of the Hon’ble Supreme Court,” it added.

Ms. Mir has missed two international events since 2023 due to the denial of travel permission. “I urge all to support sportspersons of J&K. I am happy to the represent India and will serve my country,” Ms. Mir said.

The Supreme Court on September 10 issued an order in favour of Ms. Mir and quashed an official order denying her permission, citing pending departmental inquiries and service conditions. 

In 2023, Ms. Mir faced an Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) inquiry over an anonymous complaint, questioning whether she possessed a Bachelor in Physical Education course to become a Physical Education Teacher (PET) or not.

In July 2025, the J&K High Court quashed the First Information Report (FIR) and described the investigation agency’s role as a “witch-hunt”.

Justice Sanjay Dhar of the J&K High Court, who passed the order quashing the FIR, observed that the attitude of the investigating agency “in criminalizing non-acquisition of a technical qualification by the petitioner when she has brought laurels to the country all over the world speaks volumes about the manner in which we are treating our sporting heroes”.

She became the first Indian woman on the Paris Olympics jury in 2024 and acted as the Chief Finish Line Judge at the 2025 Asian Championship held in Nanjing, China.

Ms. Mir, who once served as the secretary of the J&K Water Sports Kayaking and Canoeing Association, earned her the sobriquet of ‘Aqua Queen’ of Kashmir for training local boys and girls in different water sports since 1998. 

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