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Rajasthan to host desert queen contest
Rajasthan would host the 6th edition of this test of vehicle mastery and teamwork, that would see 45 Israeli women vying for the title.
Rajasthan would host the sixth edition of the prestigious "queen of the desert" contest, an exclusive competition for Israeli women that poses ambitious physical and mental challenges to the participants.
The sand dunes of the desert state would see 45 Israeli women vying for the coveted title later this year in an off road competition, taking place in India for the first time.
The contestants, all above 20, would be divided into three groups and tested on pre-defined criteria, including a combination of vehicle mastery and teamwork. The overall focus was to evaluate the efficiency in executing tasks, organisers of the event said here.
"Rajasthan for us is the paradise for an off road expedition. It is desert on the one hand and on the other such a colourful and amazing place," Arik Braz, Deputy Manager for adventure activities at Geographical Tours, one of the co-sponsors of the contest, said.
This year's contest attracted an unprecedented 12,500 aspirants, partly because of the attraction India provides for the Israeli youngsters, organisers said.
"We shall be using the facilities of the amazing palaces during the contest, though staying in tents, and getting the feel of being a maharaja or a maharani," Braz said."
Some 150 participants have so far been short-listed and 45 will finally make it to India for the ten-day contest following a gruelling selection process at various training camps during the coming weeks, organisers said.
"It would be like a dream come true to be in India for the contest. The combination of the venue and the nature of the contest drew me towards applying for it this year", Shira Weissel, 30, a lawyer by profession, said.
The contest is sponsored by Geographical Tours and the Teva Hadavarim (Nature of Things) magazine.
In the past it has been held in Jordan, Turkey, Ethiopia, Georgia and Thailand.
