Leh to Host Khelo India Winter Games in January 2025, Gulmarg in February
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New Delhi, Dec 11 (NationPress) Leh, Gulmarg, UT of Jammu & Kashmir, and the Union Territory of Ladakh are set to host the Khelo India Winter Games (KIWG) from January 23 to February 25, 2025.
The schedule announced on Wednesday indicates that the Union Territory of Ladakh will manage the ice events from January 23 to 27, 2025, while the UT of Jammu & Kashmir will oversee the snow events from February 22 to 25, 2025. This year’s Winter Games will kick off the Khelo India season, which will include the Youth & Para Games in Bihar in April.
The Khelo India Winter Games were inaugurated in 2020, attracting nearly 1000 athletes, including 306 women. Participation has seen a steady rise, with over 1350 athletes in 2021 and more than 1500 in 2022, showcasing the increasing popularity of the Games in J&K, as stated by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
The 2024 edition of KIWG recorded over 1200 participants, which comprised more than 700 athletes, 141 support staff, 113 technical officials, and over 250 volunteers, with a total of 136 medals available.
This year marked the first instance where the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and the Government of India, in collaboration with the Sports Authority of India and the National Sports Federations, managed the technical aspects of the Games.
“We are excited for another thrilling season of the Khelo India Games. The Winter Games are crucial as India seeks to identify its best athletes to represent the country in the 2026 Winter Olympics,” stated Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya.
This will be the second consecutive year that UT Ladakh will host part of the Khelo India Winter Games. Prior to the 2024 edition, all events were held in J&K. In February 2024, Leh successfully hosted ice events such as skating and hockey, while Gulmarg continued its tradition of hosting snow events like skiing and snowboarding.
“Our goal is to promote winter sports and inspire more athletes to engage in skiing and skating. We have already witnessed many athletes from remote Himalayan villages participating in these Games, which is very encouraging,” remarked Dr. Mandaviya.
