The Ladakh leg of the Khelo India Winter Games 2026 begins in Leh on Tuesday, bringing together more than 1,000 men and women athletes in the snow-clad Himalayan mountains.
With competitions spread across the Nawang Dorjan Stobdan Stadium, the Army rink and the frozen Gupukh’s Pond, the Games will run until January 26.
Union Sports Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya underlined the importance of this challenge, saying, “Like the Khelo India Beach Games in Diu, Leh will also challenge our athletes to push their limits in challenging conditions. The high-altitude and the oxygen factor are serious issues that athletes and coaches deal with and the Winter Games will be a good yardstick to measure how well they have prepared.”
More than 1000 athletes will take part in the Ladakh leg of the 2026 Khelo India Winter Games.
KIWG 2026 is the second event this year in the Khelo India calendar. The first event was the Khelo India Beach Games held in Diu from January 5-10.
Haryana (62), Himachal Pradesh (55) and hosts Ladakh (52) have the biggest representation in terms of athletes among the 21 states and UTs taking part. There will be 17 gold medals at stake in KIWG 2026 Ladakh leg. Of these, 15 will be for ice skating.
The Winter Games are part of the Khelo India initiative of the government to promote sports at the grass-root level and nurture budding talents. Launched in 2020, the Khelo India Winter Games has helped promote the winter sports across the length and breadth of the country.
Also Read: Khelo India Winter Games to feature 1500 participants in Gulmarg
Khelo India Winter Games 2026: Featuring Sports
Ice Sports (Leh): Ice Hockey, Speed Skating (Short & Long Track) and Figure Skating
Snow Sports (Gulmarg): Ski Mountaineering, Alpine Skiing, Snowboarding and Nordic Skiing.
Khelo India Winter Games 2026: Where to Watch Live
- Television: DD Sports is the official broadcaster. You can watch the opening ceremony, various sporting events, and the closing ceremony live on their channel.
- Live Streaming: The games are being live-streamed on the Prasar Bharati Sports YouTube channel and through the Prasar Bharati OTT platforms.
- Official Website Updates: For live stats, medal tallies, and specific event schedules, you can visit the official Khelo India Winter Games portal.
