Khelo India Winter Games 2024: Pretty Ladakh all set for date with history

Union Territory of Lakh, hosting Khelo India Winter Games for first time, is all set for a historic and tritional opening ceremony at Nawang Dorjay Stobdan Stium in Leh on Friday. first part of KIWG 2024 will be held here till February 6. second part of Games will be held in Gulmarg, Jammu and Kashmir from February 21-25.

“We are really excited and want to prove that we can host ice games at national level. Leh is kwn for ice hockey and ice skating and since this is our debut, we want to justify faith that Union sports ministry has reposed on us,” said Shri Ravinder Kumar, sports secretary, UT of Lakh.

Lakh will be conducting two Games (disciplines) -- ice hockey and speed skating. Three hundred and forty-four athletes from 15 states and Union Territories and two public institutions will compete over five days across three venues - NDS Sports Stium, Gupuks pond and Lakh Scout Regimental Centre (LSRC) rink.

Picturesque Leh has been preparing for Khelo India Winter Games 2024 for a month w. mascot of Games, sw leopard ‘Sheen-e She’ or Shan, was revealed on Tuesday. Ever since, volunteers are braving sub-zero temperatures and working overtime to prepare Leh for Games. 

“It’s been hectic but we are getting a lot of help from local associations, volunteers and Army. Everyone coming here are our guests. We want athletes to get a pleasant experience and come back here as tourists, too,” said Shri Kumar, ding venues are fully prepared to host Games.

Jammu and Kashmir, which hosted Khelo India Winter Games in its entirety in 2023, won team championship with 25 gold medals while Maharashtra (11 golds) and Himachal Presh (10 golds) finished second and third, respectively. Lakh (4 gold medals) finished ninth with a total haul of 15 medals. 

“This is a great opportunity for Lakh’s athletes to showcase ir talent in ‘home’ territory. It’s also a great exposure for us to learn how to man an event of national importance,” said Shri Kumar.

Games, including opening ceremony, will be live streamed on multiple platforms of DD Sports.