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Amid snow-covered ski slopes, the sixth edition of the Khelo India Winter Games began on Monday in Gulmarg, marking the start of the second leg of the national winter sports event.
Inaugurating the Gulmarg leg, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said Jammu and Kashmir has delivered commendable performances in sports in recent years.
“This progress has been driven by infrastructure projects sanctioned under the Prime Minister’s Development Package and support from the Union Sports Ministry, including the establishment of 100 Khelo India centres,” he said.
He added that the achievements reflected the dedication and talent of the region’s youth, as well as the efforts of officials working to promote sports.
Sinha said the Khelo India Winter Games are not merely an event, but are evolving into a national festival.
The Gulmarg leg will run from February 23 to 26, with around 400 athletes from across India participating. The opening phase of the games was held in Ladakh from January 20 to 26 and drew enthusiastic participation from winter sports enthusiasts.
The winter games are expected to boost tourism and local livelihoods, with hoteliers, ski instructors and transport operators anticipating increased business as the event draws athletes, officials and visitors to the resort town.
Artificial snow
Speaking at the event, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the government is working to develop Gulmarg as an international ski destination.
“But it is also a reality that we cannot rely solely on nature and wait for snowfall,” he said, adding that the time has come to move towards artificial snow generation.
Without investing in such infrastructure, he cautioned, a time could come when skiing in Gulmarg may no longer be possible.
Acknowledging gaps in infrastructure that have hindered medal prospects at the Asian Winter Games and the Olympics, Abdullah said, “It is our responsibility to provide athletes with the coaching and infrastructure they need.”
Published on February 23, 2026