GULMARG February 25: The Khelo India Winter Games 2024, the flagship event of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, came to an end on Sunday with a grand finale at the Gulmarg Golf Club.
The 05-day event, which was at Gulmarg, witnessed the participation of more than 600 athletes from across the country.
The Army team dominated the medal tally with 10 gold, five silver, and six bronze medals, followed by Karnataka with nine gold, two silver. Maharashtra secured the third position with seven gold, eight silver, and seven bronze medals.
The closing ceremony was graced by the presence of Arun Kumar Yadav Director Sports Ministry of Youth sports and Services, Secretary J&K Sports Council Ms Nuzhat Gul, Director SAI Manoj Jha, CEO Gulmarg Development Authority Waseem Raja, SSP Rural R P Singh who congratulated the winners, media and other for an successfully conducting the event.
“The Khelo India Winter Games 2024 have showcased the immense potential and talent of our young winter sports athletes. I am delighted to see the enthusiasm and spirit of the participants, who have given their best in various disciplines. I am confident that this event will inspire many more youngsters to take up winter sports and bring laurels to the country in the future,” Nuzhat Gul said.
The Khelo India Winter Games 2024 featured four disciplines – Alpine Skiing, Nordic Skiing, Ski Mountaineering, Snowboarding. The event was organized by the Sports Authority of India in association with the Winter Games Association of Jammu and Kashmir.
Some of the highlights of the event were:
- The second phase of the event, which was held in Gulmarg from February 21 to 25, witnessed thrilling competitions in Alpine Skiing, Nordic Skiing, Ski Mountaineering, and Snowboarding.
- The event also saw the participation of some of the prominent winter sports athletes of the country, such as Aanchal Thakur, the first Indian to win an international medal in skiing, Kaamya Karthikeyan, the youngest person to summit Mount Aconcagua, and Padma Namgail, the winner of the prestigious La Ultra marathon.
- The event also provided a platform for the local talent of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh to showcase their skills and talent. Some of the local stars who shone at the event were Baqir Hussain, Shazia Hassan, Shahid Ahmad Chachi, and Mehraj Ud Din Bhat.