*LG Ladakh inspects venues ahead of opening ceremony
Excelsior Sports Correspondent
LEH, Jan 19: The Ladakh leg of Khelo India Winter Games (KIWG) 2026 is set to begin on Tuesday at Nawang Dorjan Stobdan Stadium, Army Rink and frozen Gupukh’s Pond, continuing until January 26. The opening ceremony will take place in the afternoon, welcoming over 1,000 participants, including athletes, coaches and technical officials.
A total of 472 athletes will compete in ice sports, including skating and ice hockey, with figure skating, an Olympic event, introduced this year. Last year, Ladakh topped the medal tally with four gold medals, while Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra finished second and third.
The Games are organized by the Youth Services and Sports Department of UT Ladakh under the supervision of the Sports Authority of India, with technical guidance from national federations. Haryana (62), Himachal Pradesh (55) and hosts Ladakh (52) have the largest representation among 21 participating states and UTs, with 17 gold medals at stake, including 15 in ice skating.
Union Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya said, “The year has begun with strong momentum for Indian sport. Khelo India Winter Games now add another important dimension, creating avenues for athletes to compete and excel in winter sports.” Senior national coach Mohammad Abbas Nordak added, “In Harbin, we may not have won medals but we have shown that we can compete. More competition means more opportunities and that’s why this edition of Khelo India Winter Games is a milestone.”
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Kavinder Gupta today conducted a comprehensive inspection of all three venues designated to host the 6th Khelo India Winter Games to assess ongoing preparations.
At the main venue, NDS Ice Hockey Stadium-which will host ice hockey matches and the grand opening ceremony-Administrative Secretary, Youth Services and Sports, Moses Kunzang, briefed the Lt Governor on extensive preparations. He also informed that comprehensive stay facilities with heating arrangements have been provided, alongside a health advisory addressing high-altitude and cold conditions in Ladakh.
The Sports Secretary briefed the Lt Governor about key upgrades including a dedicated vehicle for automated ice rink cleaning and smoothing, which was previously done manually; testing of the chilling plant-produced ice sheet for seamless matches, and two dedicated rooms equipped with seating and heating for guests alongside the installation of digital scoreboard.
Then, the Lt Governor visited Guphuks Pond, the speed skating venue, where Administrative Secretary Moses Kunzang and Joint Director, Youth Services and Sports, Tahir Hussain, detailed efforts made by them to ensure pond freezing and surface smoothing to ensure seamless ice skating event. They informed that natural freezing delays this year necessitated intensive interventions for uninterrupted events.
At Ladakh Scouts Regimental Centre (LSRC), the Lt Governor and Administrative Secretary received a warm welcome from Commandant, LSRC, Col Kamal Pandey. Ice hockey matches will also be hosted at this venue.
Lieutenant Governor said the Games provide a vital platform for athletes from across the country to showcase their skills, gain competitive exposure and foster the spirit of sportsmanship and national integration. He noted that hosting such a prestigious event reflects the growing capacity of Ladakh to successfully organise major national sporting events.
He further stressed that the successful conduct of the Khelo India Winter Games would significantly strengthen Ladakh’s image as an emerging hub of winter sports and adventure tourism. He directed the administration to ensure seamless coordination, effective branding and flawless execution at every level, reiterating that there should be zero inconvenience to participants.
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