Khelo India Winter Games 2026: Ladakh Emerges as a Hub for Winter Sports
The 6th edition of the Khelo India Winter Games 2026 was inaugurated by Lt Governor Kavinder Gupta in Leh, marking a significant milestone in Ladakh’s journey as a prominent destination for winter sports. The state-of-the-art NDS ice hockey stadium is hosting the Games, which will run for seven days until January 26, coinciding with Republic Day celebrations.
A total of 1,060 participants, including athletes, technical officials, support staff, and volunteers from 19 states, as well as members of the Indian Army and Indo-Tibetan Border Police, are taking part in the Games. The competitions feature ice hockey, speed skating, and, for the first time, figure skating.
Lt Governor Gupta highlighted the importance of hosting the Games for the third consecutive year, emphasizing Ladakh’s capability, commitment, and preparedness to organize major sporting events in challenging high-altitude conditions. The Games play a crucial role in promoting winter sports, nurturing young talent, and strengthening the sporting ecosystem in the region.
The inclusion of figure skating in the Games is a significant step in the evolution of winter sports in India, according to Gupta. Plans are underway to introduce additional disciplines like curling in future editions to further expand the scope of winter sports in the country.
World-class infrastructure is essential for the development of sports, Gupta noted, highlighting key venues like the NDS Ice Hockey Rink and Gupuk Pond. The construction of a modern Ice Hockey Rink in Kargil is also in progress, further enhancing winter sports infrastructure in the union territory.
Ladakh recently launched a comprehensive sports policy to position itself as a winter sports powerhouse. The policy includes talent identification at the school level, an inclusive environment for women and differently-abled athletes, and job reservation for outstanding sportspersons. It offers guaranteed scholarships, cash awards, excellence centers, advanced training facilities, coach incentives, sports-education integration, and sports tourism promotion.
The relationship between sports and tourism in Ladakh has been successful, with events like the climate cup football, Ladakh marathon, and Khelo India Winter Games creating employment opportunities and showcasing the region globally. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visionary leadership has led to a transformative shift in India’s sports ecosystem, with a focus on winter sports and the organization of international-level events in remote regions like Ladakh.
The encouragement and support of the Prime Minister have provided new opportunities and confidence to the youth of Ladakh, paving the way for a bright future in sports. The Khelo India Winter Games serve as a platform to inspire youth to pursue winter sports professionally and contribute to the growth of the sports industry in the region.
