*LG declares Ice Hockey as State Game of Ladakh
Excelsior Sports Correspondent
LEH, Jan 23: Khelo India Winter Games (KIWG) 2025 started at iconic NDS Stadium here today. First part of KIWG 2025 is being hosted by the Union Territory of Ladakh till January 27.
The 5000-capacity NDS Stadium showed the spirit of adventure sports on a freezing day as Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Ladakh and J&K for organizing the first major sports meet of the national calendar and demonstrating to the world why they are hotspots for winter sports.
Flight from Delhi carrying Union Sports Minister, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, who was to grace KIWG 2025 opening in person, could not land at Leh’s Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport due to bad weather. However, in a heart-warming message, Dr Mandaviya declared the games open.
A cultural display and an exhibition ice-hockey match marked the opening ceremony.
In his message to KIWG 2025, PM Modi reiterated government’s commitment to spread sports activities across India and said how Ladakh and J&K have not only elevated the culture of sports in our country but also boosted tourism, showcasing the nation’s beauty and diversity.
“Through 100 Khelo India Centres in J&K and three in Ladakh, including a State Centre of Excellence in Leh for athletics, archery and boxing, our efforts are shaping the region into a hub of sporting excellence,” said PM Modi.
Dr. Mandaviya expressed disappointment on missing the opening ceremony but cheered all the stakeholders saying, that India was truly a “4D sports destination.”
“If I talk of one and a great united India, then I also look at the diversity hidden in it and the benefits that come from it. Currently we are in Leh, we can hold the Winter Games here due to the prevalent weather conditions. If we go towards the Northeast, it’s a great region for the development of adventure sports,” he maintained adding: “While laying the foundation of KIWG, we had a dream about this amazing sporting event. That dream was to present a tough challenge to the world on behalf of India in every sphere of sport and to sing ‘Jana Gana Mana’ while standing atop the Winter Olympics podium.”
The Lieutenant Governor, Brigadier (Dr) B.D Mishra (Retd) and First Lady Neelam Mishra attended the opening ceremony of 5th KIWG.
In a significant announcement, the LG declared Ice Hockey as State Game of UT Ladakh. He also shared that the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, who could not arrive in Leh this morning, has approved the participation of the Indian Ice Hockey Team in 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, China.
Nineteen teams from various States, Union Territories and institutional like Army and ITBP are participating in KIWG-2025.
A total of 594 participants, of which 428 are athletes, are involved in the Ladakh leg of KIWG 2025. This is the second time Ladakh is hosting winter games.
CEC, LAHDC-Leh, Advocate Tashi Gyaltson; CEC LAHDC-Kargil, Dr. Mohd Jaffer Akhon; Advisor to the LG, Dr. Pawan Kotwal; DGP Ladakh, Dr. SD Singh Jamwal; 14 Corps Commander, Lt Gen. Hitesh Balla; IG, ITBP, NorthWest Frontier, Dr. Akhun Sabrawal and others were also present on the occasion.
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