The fourth edition of the Khelo India Winter Games, a flagship event of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, has begun in Ladakh on Saturday. The first leg of the games will be held in Leh from February 2 to 6, followed by the second leg in Gulmarg from February 21 to 26.
Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Kiren Rijiju announced the commencement of the games on Twitter, saying, “The 4th- Edition of Khelo India Winter Games has begun in Ladakh! The 2nd Leg will be held in Gulmarg from- Feb. 21-26th. PM Narendra Modi has pushed sports & adventure activities through- Khelo India & Fit India.”
The Khelo India Winter Games are aimed at promoting winter sports and adventure activities at the grassroots level in the country. The games feature various disciplines such as alpine skiing, nordic skiing, snowboarding, ice hockey, ice skating, curling, snowshoeing, and mountaineering. More than 1,500 athletes from across the country are expected to participate in the games, which will be held in the scenic locations of Ladakh and Kashmir.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also extended his best wishes to the participants and organizers of the games through a video message. He said, “The Khelo India Winter Games are a step towards making India a strong contender in the winter sports arena. These games will also boost tourism and local economy in the region. I urge everyone to support and encourage our young athletes who are showcasing their talent and potential on the snow and ice.”
The Khelo India Winter Games are supported by the Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council and the Winter Games Association of J&K. The games are part of the Khelo India initiative, which was launched in 2018 to foster a culture of sports and fitness in the country. The initiative also includes the Khelo India Youth Games and the Khelo India University Games, which have witnessed the participation of thousands of young sportspersons from various states and universities.
The previous edition of the Khelo India Winter Games was held in 2021, where Jammu and Kashmir emerged as the overall champion with 34 gold medals, followed by Karnataka with 9 gold medals and Maharashtra with 8 gold medals.
