Union Minister to open Khelo India Winter Games today

The Khelo India Winter Games (KWIG) 2025 season will start in Ladakh from Thursday. Nineteen teams, comprising states, Union Territories and institutional outfits, will compete for over five days in two events—ice-hockey and ice-skating.

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This will be the first part of KIWG 2025, while the second part, featuring snow games like skiing, will be hosted by J&K from February 22-25.

Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Mansukh Mandaviya will be in attendance at the opening ceremony at the iconic Nawang Dorjay Stobdan Sports Complex in Leh on Thursday and will declared the games open.

Mandaviya will be joined by a host of dignitaries, including Ladakh Lt Governor Brig BD Mishra (retd), and senior officials of the Sports Authority of India and Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council.

A traditional, Ladhaki-style opening has been planned to welcome 594 participants, of which 428 will be athletes. This will be the second time Ladakh will be hosting the winter games, into its fifth edition.

Several young skaters will be seen in action at the NDS and Gupuks Pond, the two venues where short and long-form skating will be organised. Ice-hockey matches will be played at the NDS and the Ladakh Scouts Regimental Centre.

In KIWG 2024, Maharashtra won 20 skating medals that included six golds. Karnataka finished second with eight medals, including six golds while hosts Ladakh finished third with a combined haul of 13 medals.

All teams have arrived in Leh which is at an altitude of 11,562 feet. Himachal Pradesh have the biggest contingent comprising 78 athletes and support staff. Haryana (62), hosts Ladakh (52) and Maharashtra (48) will compete in the Ladakh edition. Uttarakhand has the smallest team comprising one solitary athlete.