NewKerala.com

Ladakh Hosts Khelo India Winter Games 2026 with Historic Ice Hockey Debut

The sixth edition of the Khelo India Winter Games was inaugurated in Leh, Ladakh, with Lieutenant Governor Kavindra Gupta as the chief guest. A historic highlight is the ice hockey competition being played for the first time on the venue's artificial ice rink. The games, featuring teams from multiple states and union territories as well as forces like the ITBP and Indian Army, will test athletes in high-altitude conditions until January 26. Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Ladakh have the largest contingents among the 21 participating regions.

Key Points: Khelo India Winter Games 2026 Inaugurated in Leh, Ladakh

  • Inaugurated at NDS Stadium, Leh
  • First ice hockey on artificial rink
  • Features Ice Hockey, Short & Long Track events
  • Games continue till January 26, 2026
2 min read

Ladakh: Khelo India Winter Games 2026 6th edition inaugurated in Leh

The 6th Khelo India Winter Games 2026 begins in Leh, featuring ice hockey on an artificial rink for the first time. Events run till Jan 26.

"The ice hockey matches are being played for the first time at the Artificial Ice Rink in NDS stadium, Leh. - Official Release"

Leh, January 20

The sixth edition of the Khelo India Winter Games 2026 was inaugurated at the NDS stadium in Leh, Ladakh. The event is being organised by the Department of Youth Services and Sports, UT Ladakh, as per a release.

The opening ceremony was held with a formal programme arranged at the venue. The ceremony was graced by the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Kavindra Gupta, who served as the Chief Guest.

On the opening day, the scheduled ice hockey match was held on time. During the match, the ice hockey skaters displayed their skills, drawing the attention of the spectators at the venue.

A cultural programme was also organised during the opening ceremony, adding to the overall significance of the inaugural event. A key highlight of this edition is that the ice hockey matches are being played for the first time at the Artificial Ice Rink in NDS stadium, Leh.

As per the official schedule, Ice Hockey and Short Track events are being conducted at the Ice Hockey Rink, NDS Sports Complex, Leh, while Long Track events are being held at Gupuk Pond, Leh.

The Ice Hockey competition is witnessing participation from teams representing Maharashtra, Chandigarh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, UT Ladakh, ITBP, and the Indian Army. The Khelo India Winter Games 2026 will continue till January 26, 2026.

The first leg of the Khelo India Winter Games 2026 is 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 is provided by the national sports promotional bodies/federations managing ice sports.

KIWG 2026 is the second event on the Khelo India calendar this year. The first event was the Khelo India Beach Games held in Diu from January 5 to January 10. For all athletes and their support staff, the Leh Games will test how they perform under challenging high-altitude climatic conditions, including minus-degree temperatures and low oxygen.

Haryana (62), Himachal Pradesh (55), and Ladakh (52) have the largest representation among the 21 states and UTs taking part. There will be 17 gold medals at stake in the KIWG 2026 Ladakh leg. Of these, 15 will be for ice skating.

- ANI

Share this article:

Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
Wonderful to see such a diverse participation from states and even the ITBP and Army. The cultural program alongside the sports must have been beautiful. Wishing all athletes the very best in those challenging conditions!
A
Ananya R
As someone from Himachal, I'm so proud to see our state sending 55 athletes! These games are crucial for identifying talent in regions where winter sports can be a natural fit. Jai Hind!
V
Vikram M
Good initiative, but I hope the focus is on long-term athlete development and not just a one-off event. We need consistent training facilities and exposure for these athletes to compete internationally.
K
Kavya N
Ice hockey at an artificial rink in Leh! How cool is that? 😄 This really puts Ladakh on the map for sports tourism as well. The blend of sports and culture is what makes our country's events so special.
M
Michael C
Impressive scale of the event. Competing at that altitude and temperature is no joke. Hats off to the organizers and all the support staff making this happen. The athletes are truly tough.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50