Seventeen-year-old Gauri Rai from Haryana excelled at the first leg of the 2026 Khelo India Winter Games in Leh, clinching gold in the advanced figure skating category at Nawang Dorjan Stobdan Stadium. Initially a roller skater, Gauri’s transition to figure skating was inspired by an event at Ambience Mall in Gurugram in 2017.
Gauri, who also secured a silver in the United Arab Emirates Figure Skating Championship in 2022, expressed surprise at her victory, attributing it partly to a mishap by the favored competitor. Despite struggling with the altitude during her performance, Gauri’s mother’s unwavering belief in her abilities proved prophetic.
Acknowledging the support from her family and the Khelo India initiative, Gauri praised the event’s organization and facilities. She emphasized the need for increased media coverage to popularize figure skating in India and highlighted the necessity for more advanced training facilities to compete at an international level.
Gauri, a student at Manav Rachna International School, Gurugram, aims to participate in the International Skating Union Seminar to assess her readiness for international competitions.
