Gulmarg (Jammu & Kashmir), February 23 (NationPress) - The Army kicked off the Gulmarg segment of the Khelo India Winter Games (KIWG) 2026 with a remarkable performance, securing three out of the five gold medals available on the first day this Monday. Both the CRPF and Himachal Pradesh also claimed gold medals.

However, it wasn't a favorable day for the top contenders. Veteran athletes like Bhavani Thekkada Nanjunda from Karnataka and Aanchal Thakur from Himachal Pradesh were overtaken by emerging skiers who have been excelling in the national circuit.

Among the standout competitors was 17-year-old Jiah Aryan, an emerging star in Alpine skiing from Karnataka, who earned a bronze in her second KIWG. She faced off against seasoned skiers such as Aanchal and Sandhya Thakur, both of whom represented India in the Asian Winter Games in Harbin, China, last February. In a tightly contested event on the Kongdoori slopes, Himachal Pradesh’s Sandhya triumphed over Aanchal.

It was a heartfelt moment for Kajal Kumari Rai of the CRPF, who clinched gold in the 15km Nordic skiing (cross-country) event held at the Gulmarg Golf Course. Kajal outpaced the favorite, Bhavani, who took home bronze in a spectacular finish. The Meghalaya native dedicated her gold medal to her father, who passed away last February. Renu Danu from the CRPF secured the silver medal. Bhavani was a three-time gold medalist in KIWG 2025.

The first gold medal of the day was awarded to Sunny Singh from the Army, who excelled in the men’s sprint event in Nordic skiing. Sunny, a consistent medalist at the KIWGs, showcased his skills on Monday, leading an Army sweep in the opening event before the inauguration ceremony commenced at the Golf Course.

During the inauguration ceremony, Lieutenant Governor of Jammu & Kashmir, Shri Manoj Sinha, remarked that this edition of KIWG resembled a “relay race” following the conclusion of the Winter Olympics in Italy. He emphasized how the games exemplify national unity and the creative spirit in sports.

“Our athletes should draw inspiration from Olympic legends such as Mikaela Shiffrin and Indian Olympians like Arif Khan from J&K and Aanchal Thakur. This edition of KIWG, following the Winter Olympics, provides an exceptional platform to demonstrate technical prowess in challenging conditions,” stated Shri Sinha, who noted that “KIWG serves as a test of courage and character.” Shiffrin is a three-time Olympic gold medalist.

Shri Omar Abdullah, the Chief Minister of J&K, encouraged athletes to aim higher, saying, “We aspire to see another Arif Khan emerge from here. With six editions of KIWG behind us, it's time to strategize on winning medals, especially at the Asian level. We must invest in infrastructure to transform Gulmarg into a year-round international ski destination.”

This week, Gulmarg has been experiencing unseasonably warm weather, causing snow to melt rapidly. Shri Abdullah suggested the concept of “artificial snow generation” to address the repercussions of global warming, which has been affecting winter sports. “Gulmarg’s economy is intertwined with snow and tourism. Acknowledging climate change, we need to develop infrastructure that reduces our reliance on natural snow,” he remarked.

Results Day 1 (all finals)

NORDIC SKIING

Men (Sprint, 1.5 km): 1. Sunny Singh (Army) 3:06.83 seconds, 2. Shubam Parihar (Army) 3:07.35 secs, 3. Manjeet (Army) 3:08.73 secs

Women (15 km): 1. Kajal Kumari Rai (CRPF) 52:08.29 secs, 2. Renu Danu (CRPF) 53:10.81 secs, 3. Bhavani Thekkada Nanjunda (Karnataka) 53:20.44 secs

SNOWBOARDING

(Men- Slalom) 1. Vivek Rana (Army) 01:01.439 secs, 2. Kulvinder Sharma (Army) 01:02.854 secs, 3. Vikar Ahmad Lone (J&K) 01:03.174 secs

ALPINE GIANT SLALOM

(Men): 1. Mayank Panwar (Army) 01:06.479 secs, 2. Baqir Hussain (Army) 01:07.194 secs, 3. Devendra Gurung (Army) 01:09.473 secs.

(Women) 1. Sandhya Thakur (Himachal Pradesh) 01:23.285 secs, 2. Aanchal Thakur (HP) 01:23.985 secs, 3. Jiah Aryan (Karnataka) 01:31.064 secs.