Dr Mansukh Mandaviya Congratulates Ladakh for Successfully Hosting Khelo India Winter Games
Leh, Jan 20: The sixth edition of the Khelo India Winter Games (KIWG) 2026 was inaugurated at the Nawang Dorjan Stobdan (NDS) Stadium here on Tuesday.
The Ladakh phase of the Games, which will host ice sports like skating and ice hockey, will conclude on January 26. This marks the third time that the Union Territory of Ladakh is hosting KIWG. The snow-leg of the Games is scheduled to be held later this year in Gulmarg, Jammu & Kashmir.
The opening ceremony featured traditional music and dance, as well as an exhibition ice hockey match between Army XI and UT Ladakh. The Games were formally declared open by the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Kavinder Gupta.
Organized by the Youth Services and Sports Department of Ladakh under the supervision of the Sports Authority of India, the Games will benefit from technical expertise provided by national sports federations managing ice sports.
In a message to Ladakh, Union Minister for Youth Affairs & Sports Dr Mansukh Mandaviya 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 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 organized 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 further explained, “The Khelo India Winter Games 2026 have been deliberately structured as a two-leg competition, with ice sports in Leh followed by snow events in February at Gulmarg, to provide athletes with high-quality competitive exposure across varied terrains. Such sustained domestic competition is essential for India to steadily build credibility and competitiveness in winter Olympic disciplines.”
In his speech, Lt Governor Kavinder Gupta highlighted how Ladakh has benefited from PM Modi’s vision for sports development in India.
“Hosting the Khelo India Winter Games for the third consecutive time is a matter of great pride for Ladakh. It reflects the nation’s confidence in our capability, commitment, and excellence in event management,” he said.
The Games will see 1,060 participants, including 480 athletes, competing across three venues: the NDS Stadium, Gupukh’s Pond, and the Ladakh Scouts Regimental Centre rink. Figure skating, an Olympic sport where India is making progress internationally, will make its debut at this edition of KIWG.
Present at the opening ceremony were Dr Mohd Jaffer Akhoon, Chief Executive Councillor of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council Kargil, senior UT administration officials including Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra, and senior officials of the Sports Authority of India.
Lt Governor Gupta also highlighted Ladakh’s first-ever Sports Policy, which focuses on talent identification at the school level, creating an inclusive sports ecosystem for women and Divyang athletes, strengthening the Ladakh Sports Council, providing 4% reservation in government jobs for outstanding sportspersons, assured scholarships, cash awards up to ₹100 crore, and development of international-standard sports infrastructure. (Agencies)
