Interacts with Khelo India Athletes, reaffirms push for Winter Sports
Reaffirms UT Administration’s resolve to make Ladakh country’s winter sports hub
Sports key to youth empowerment, drug-free India
Leh, January 25: The Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Shri Kavinder Gupta, held an engaging interaction session with participants of the ongoing 6th Khelo India Winter Games 2026 at the Indoor Hall, NDS Stadium today, fostering meaningful exchanges on sports development, cultural integration, and youth empowerment.
At the beginning of the session, players from Jammu & Kashmir, Chandigarh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Telangana, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Maharashtra commended improved facilities and warm hospitality compared to previous years, thanking UT Administration and officials for making their stay in Ladakh memorable. They also praised the modern state-of-the-art ice hockey rink at Ladakh. They emphasised Khelo India transcended geographical barriers and shared suggestions for elevating future Games standards.
The Lt Governor highlighted that UT Administration had made every effort to ensure participants returned home with cherished Ladakh experiences. He emphasised sports as a powerful medium for sharing diverse cultures and languages, describing it as one of India’s greatest strengths.
Praising Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision, he noted Khelo India provided a national platform for talent showcase, with UT Administration and Sports Authority of India ensuring world-class facilities for the participants. He shared plans for year-round tourism and sporting events, linking sports growth with Ladakh’s tourism boom, and announced the upcoming modern ice hockey stadium in Kargil to further bolster winter sports infrastructure.
The Lt Governor invited teams from other states for winter sports training camps at Ladakh and reaffirmed commitment to continuous facility improvements, positioning Ladakh as India’s premier winter sports hub. He urged participants to champion drug awareness among youth, stating sports keeps youth away from substance abuse, and called for their active role in achieving Viksit Bharat 2047 resolve.
Chief Secretary Shri Ashish Kundra noted significant sports infrastructure enhancements in Ladakh. He invited players from Chandigarh and Haryana for training and proposed establishing a Centre of Excellence for winter sports training in Ladakh to attract national talent.
Among those present during the interactive session were Administrative Secretary Smt Bhanu Prabha, Administrative Secretary Youth Services & Sports Shri Moses Kunzang, and senior officials from SAI and Ladakh.
