Sports minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya congratulates Ladakh for showing capability to host Khelo India Winter Games

Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports Sports minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya congratulates Ladakh for showing capability to host Khelo India Winter Games The Leh-leg of the KIWG 2026 was declared open by Lt Governor of UT Ladakh, Kavinder Gupta, lauds PM Modi for his sports vision Figure skating has been added to the ice skating programme for the first time Around 1060, including athletes and coaches, will participate in the Games, the first leg of which concludes on Jan 26 प्रव तथ: 20 JAN 2026 6:35PM by PIB Delhi Leh (Ladakh)/New Delhi, January 20: The curtains went up on the sixth edition of the Khelo India Winter Games at the Nawang Dorjan Stobdan (NDS) Stadium here on Tuesday. The Ladakh phase of the winter Games, that will host ice sports like skating and hockey, will conclude on January 26. This is the third time that the Union Territory of Ladakh is hosting KIWG. The snow leg of KIWG will be held in Gulmarg, Jammu & Kashmir later this year.At a colourful opening ceremony, punctuated by traditional music and dance and an exhibition ice hockey match between Army XI and UT Ladakh, Khelo India Winter Games 2026 were declared open by the Hon’ble Lt Governor of Ladakh, Shri Kavinder Gupta. The first leg of Khelo India Winter Games 2026 will be organised by the Youth Services and Sports department of the Union Territory of Ladakh under the supervision of the Sports Authority of India. The technical expertise for the conduct of the Games will be provided by the national sports promotional bodies/federations managing ice sports. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DTuSGOTgaM1/?igsh=NmphdzlpbWpyaGYw In a message to Ladakh, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, the Hon'ble Minister for Youth Affairs & Affairs, said: “I congratulate the Union Territory of Ladakh for successfully hosting the Khelo India Winter Games once again and for demonstrating, with confidence and capability, that India’s winter sports future is being built from the Himalayas outward. Under the visionary leadership of the Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Ladakh has emerged as a symbol of what focused policy, infrastructure development, and local commitment can achieve. The manner in which these Games have been organised sends a clear national signal that winter sports are now an integral part of India’s competitive sporting framework and will be pursued with seriousness, scale, and long-term intent.” Dr Mandaviya added, “The Khelo India Winter Games 2026 have been deliberately designed as a two-leg competition, with ice sports in Leh followed by snow events in February at Gulmarg in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir, to build depth, continuity, and high-quality competitive exposure for athletes. This structure allows athletes to test themselves across varied terrains and conditions, closely aligned with international winter sport standards. Such sustained domestic competition is essential if India is to move beyond sporadic participation and steadily build credibility, consistency, and competitiveness in winter Olympic disciplines over the coming years.” https://www.instagram.com/p/DTulPhogXEB/?igsh=cjZ3cnRoemJnZDBx In his speech, Shri Gupta expressed how Ladakh has benefitted from Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision on promotion of sports in India. “Under the visionary leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, India’s sporting culture has received a renewed impetus. Through the Khelo India initiative, youth empowerment, physical fitness, and sporting excellence have been elevated as national priorities.”Shri Gupta added: “Hosting the Khelo India Winter Games continuously for the past three years is a matter of great pride for Ladakh. It reflects the nation’s confidence in Ladakh’s capability, commitment, and excellence in event management.” One thousand and sixty participants, including 480 athletes, will take part in KIWG 2026 to be played across three venues – the new-look NDS Stadium, Gupukh’s Pond and the Ladakh Scouts Regimental Centre rink. Figure skating, an Olympic sport where Indians are showing international progress, is making its debut at these Games. Some of India’s best skaters will be taking part in this edition of KIWG. Present in the opening ceremony were Dr Mohd Jaffer Akhoon, the Hon’ble Chief Executive Councillor, Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council Kargil, senior officials of the UT administration including chief secretary Shri Ashish Kundra, senior officials of the Sports Authority of India among others. In keeping with PM Modi’s vision, Shri Gupta said Ladakh was also taking rapid strides in sportsdevelopment. “Ladakh has recently been endowed with its first-ever Sports Policy. This policy focuses on talent identification at the school level; creating an inclusive sports ecosystem for women and Divyang athletes; strengthening the Ladakh Sports Council; providing four per cent reservation in government jobs for outstanding sportspersons; assured scholarships; cash awards of up to ₹100 crore; development of international-standard sports infrastructure; expansion of centres of excellence; advanced training programmes; incentives for coaches; integration of sports with education; and promotion of sports tourism. This policy will inspire the youth of Ladakh and provide them with pathways to pursue sports professionally.” For more on KIWG: please click www.Winter.kheloindia.gov.in **** Ayushman Kumar (रलीज़ आईडी: 2216523) आगंतुक पटल : 214 इस वज्ञ को इन भाषाओ ंम पढ़: Urdu , ही , Marathi , Gujarati