Samina khatoon

Khelo India Winter Games: Hosts Ladakh and ITBP women marched into the final of the ice hockey competition in the Khelo India Winter Games (KIWG) 2026 in commanding fashion to set up a repeat of the women’s ice hockey summit clash of KIWG 2025 in Leh, Ladakh, on Friday.

On an icy day in Leh, the 1000 metres long-track finals for men and women at the Gupukh’s Pond were impacted due to heavy snowfall, the first in weeks in this Union Territory. Due to poor visibility and the condition of the 333 metres course, the women’s final was badly impacted towards the middle stages. The men’s race did not start.

Defending champions Army sealed their berth in the men’s ice hockey semifinal from Group A. Playing at their ‘home’ turf, the Ladakh Scouts Regimental Centre rink, Army thrashed Jammu & Kashmir 11-0. They will play ITBP, the No. 2 team in Group B, in the semifinals. Hosts Ladakh are sitting on top of Group B. Both men’s semis are on Saturday.