Kavinder gupta

Sports Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya: The curtains went up on the sixth edition of the Khelo India Winter Games (KIWG) at the Nawang Dorjan Stobdan (NDS) Stadium in Leh on Tuesday, with Sports Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya saying its organising "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".

The Ladakh phase of the winter Games, which 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, the Khelo India Winter Games 2026 were declared open by the Lt Governor of Ladakh, Kavinder Gupta. The first leg of the 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.