Khelo India Winter Games conclude in Gulmarg

Story by  Nakul Shivani | Posted by  Nakul Shivani • 1 Years ago
MoS Youth Affairs and Sports Nisith Pramanik distributing medals on the concluding day of the games
MoS Youth Affairs and Sports Nisith Pramanik distributing medals on the concluding day of the games

 

Nakul Shivani/ New Delhi

Curtains came down on the third edition of the Khelo India Winter Games in Gulmarg on Tuesday. The closing ceremony was marked by a function attended by the Union Minister of State for Youth and Sports Affairs, Nisith Pramanik.

The four-day event saw close to two thousand athletes from across the country participate in 11 events in the picturesque skiing slopes of Gulmarg.

Nuzhat Gull, Secretary Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council speaking to Awazthevoice.in said, "the games were a sports festival wherein athletes from all over the country witnessed the culture, nature and love of the locals giving an example of 'Ek Bharat Shresth Bharat'."

Jammu and Kashmir topped the medals tally

Jammu and Kashmir athletes outshone players from other states by topping the medals tally. They bagged 76 medals including 26 gold, 25 silver and 25 bronze medals, followed by Maharashtra with 13 gold, 8 silver and 6 bronze medals. The third position was achieved by Himachal Pradesh 10 Gold, 14 Silver and 7 Bronze while Army scored 10 gold, 10 silver and 9 bronze medals.

Skiing competition was one of the major attractions at the games

Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister Pramanik thanked the Prime Minister Narendra Modi for taking the initiative to create world-class infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir.

“In the last two years the government has developed Indoor Stadium in every district of Jammu and Kashmir besides play grounds in every panchayat’, he said and underlined that J&K has transitioned into a new era of prosperity.

40 Khelo India centres have been opened in the Union Territory. The government has also announced the setting up of a Centre for Excellence in the valley.

Pramanik hoped that the Winter Games will help unearth talent to represent the country at the world stage.

The five-day games have helped establish Gulmarg’s reputation as the Winter Sports capital of the country.

Participants in the Khelo India Winter Games 

While presenting vote of thanks, Nuzhat Gul expressed gratitude to Union Minister Anurag Thakur and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha for their support in organising the huge event and also thanked Chief Guest of the function besides officers of various departments involved for their cooperation in organising the national event and concluding it successfully.

She added that athletes from JK who bought laurels to the UT at the games will "one day be ambasadors for the country at the international stage."

Earlier, Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Thakur along with Lt. Governor of JK, Manoj Sinha inaugurated the games on Feb 10, amidst fresh snowfall in the skiing resort. The opening ceremony included a grand colourful cultural show with performances by artistes from across the UT.

Union Minister Anurag Thakur at the inauguration of the games

Speaking on the importance of the Winter games, Anurag Thakur had said, “Like our performance in the Summer Olympics, I am hopeful our players will do be better in future in Winter Olympics too. This is the platform to identify, hunt and scout for talent, so that they can be given proper training.”

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Athletes competed in events like Alpine Skiing, Snowboarding, Ice-stock, Snow Baseball, Snowshoe Running, Figure Skating and Ice Skating among others.