More than 1000 men and women, including athletes, coaches, and technical officials, will participate in the Ladakh leg of the Khelo India Winter Games (KIWG) 2026 starting in Leh on Tuesday. The opening ceremony will be held in the afternoon at the Nawang Dorjan Stobdan (NDS) Stadium. The Army rink and the frozen Gupukh’s Pond will be the main venues until the Games conclude on January 26.
In total, 472 athletes will compete in two ice sports – skating and hockey. This year, figure skating, an Olympic event, will be introduced as a new attraction. In the previous Ladakh leg of KIWG, the hosts secured the top spot in the medal tally with four gold medals out of 13. Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra claimed the second and third positions, respectively.
The Khelo India Winter Games (KIWG) 2026 is the second event in the Khelo India calendar this year. Organized by the Youth Services and Sports department of the Union Territory of Ladakh under the supervision of the Sports Authority of India, the Games receive technical support from national sports bodies managing ice sports. The Games aim to test athletes’ performance under challenging high-altitude climatic conditions.
Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, highlighted the importance of athletes pushing their limits in adverse conditions like high altitude and low oxygen levels. While ice hockey remains a prominent sport in KIWG Ladakh, the addition of figure skating is seen as a positive development. The Games provide a platform for athletes to showcase their skills and compete at a national level.
Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Ladakh have the highest athlete representation among the 21 states and UTs participating in the KIWG 2026 Ladakh leg. A total of 17 gold medals will be up for grabs, with 15 dedicated to ice skating events.
