Defending champions Ladakh women and Army men started strongly in the Khelo India Winter Games (KIWG) 2026 ice-hockey competition in Leh, Ladakh. The favored teams, ITBP, ITBP, and Himachal Pradesh, also secured victories in their matches. The sixth edition of KIWG kicked off at the Nawang Dorjan Stobdan (NDS) Stadium in Leh, marking the beginning of the Ladakh phase of the winter Games. The event, featuring ice sports like skating and hockey, will run until January 26, with this being Ladakh’s third time hosting KIWG.
The opening ceremony of the Khelo India Winter Games 2026 was a vibrant affair with traditional music and dance, including an exhibition ice-hockey match between Army and Ladakh men. The Hon’ble Lt Governor of Ladakh, Shri Kavinder Gupta, officially inaugurated the games. Organized by the Youth Services and Sports department of Ladakh under the supervision of the Sports Authority of India (SAI), the technical support for the Games will be provided by national sports bodies managing ice sports.
The Ladakh Scouts Regimental Centre witnessed thrilling women’s hockey matches on Day 1. ITBP, the previous year’s runners-up, dominated Rajasthan 6-0 in a group B clash, while Ladakh girls outclassed Telangana 19-1 in a group A encounter. Notably, Padma Desal and Padma Chorol were standout performers for the Ladakh team. In men’s action, defending champions Army defeated Himachal Pradesh 5-1 in a group A match, showcasing their team’s depth with five different scorers. ITBP men also impressed in group B, netting 16 goals against Rajasthan, with Stanzin Mingure and Tashi Tundup leading the scoring.
