Leh (Ladakh), Jan 22 (NationPress) On the third day of the Khelo India Winter Games (KIWG) 2026, two prestigious gold medals were awarded, with Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh each clinching victory in the men’s and women’s 500m long track events at the scenic Gupukh’s Pond in Leh.

Haryana continues to dominate the medal standings, bolstered by two golds in figure skating obtained on Wednesday. Four states – Uttarakhand, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Madhya Pradesh – are tied for second place, while the host region, Ladakh, holds the sixth position with two silver and two bronze medals. The Ladakh segment of the KIWG 2026 will conclude on Republic Day.

As in previous competitions, skaters from the plains are displaying their talents alongside athletes from snowy regions. Following Haryana's performance on Wednesday, Avikshit Vijay Viswanat from Tamil Nadu and Udreka Singh from Madhya Pradesh showcased their skills by winning gold in their respective 500m long track events at Gupukh’s Pond, a frozen lake beside the Indus River.

19-year-old Avikshith successfully defended his title from last year’s KIWG, while 15-year-old Udreka, competing in her third KIWG, has demonstrated significant progress. Wearing long track boots and blades for the first time, Udreka finished in 53.94 seconds, earning gold ahead of local favorite Skarma Tsultim (54.21 seconds). Tasnia Shameem from Ladakh secured the bronze medal with a time of 57.41 seconds.

“We’ve been friends since I began skating. Winning against Skarma feels special as she’s local and trains at a high altitude in Leh. Athletes from the plains usually face challenges, making this victory significant. There were moments when Skarma outpaced me, and it’s always a close contest. I’m delighted that both of us will be on the podium tomorrow,” Udreka told SAI Media.

Avikshith’s four-month training stint in the Netherlands before the KIWG proved fruitful. Originally a roller skater who transitioned to ice skating just a year prior, Avikshith completed the 500m long track in 43.48 seconds to secure gold.

The top six finishers in this race included participants from three southern states: Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka. Danda Chandra Mouli from Andhra took silver with a time of 43.97 seconds, while Harshit BT from Karnataka earned bronze with 44.13 seconds.

In the ice hockey events, the Army claimed their second consecutive victory in Group A, following a 5-1 win over Himachal Pradesh on Tuesday, by decisively defeating Chandigarh 10-1 at the NDS Stadium on Thursday. Padma Norboo scored three goals, with Tsewang Dorjay and Jigmath Kunzang each netting two.

In the women’s category, both Ladakh and ITBP are on track for another final face-off after their convincing wins against Chandigarh and Himachal Pradesh, respectively. The Ladakh women previously defeated Haryana 7-1 in their opening match.

TODAY’S ICE SKATING RESULTS (all finals):

LONG TRACK 500m (MEN): 1. Avikshith Vijay Viswanat (Tamil Nadu) 43.48 seconds 2. Danda Chandra Mouli (Andhra Pradesh) 43.97 3. Harshith BT (Karnataka) 44.13 seconds

LONG TRACK 500 (WOMEN): 1. Udreka Singh (Madhya Pradesh) 53.94 seconds 2. Skarma Tsultim (Ladakh) 54.21 3. Tasnia Shameem (Ladakh) 57.41 seconds.

TODAY’S ICE HOCKEY RESULTS:

Women’s Group A: Ladakh beat Chandigarh 5-0; (Group B) ITBP beat Himachal Pradesh 7-0; Haryana beat Rajasthan 2-0.

Men’s Group A: Army beat Chandigarh 10-1.