The fifth edition of the Khelo India Winter Games (KIWG) started on January 23, 2025, in Leh, Ladakh. This event, funded by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS), is part of Government of India’s (GoI) Khelo India initiative, which promotes sports across the country.
- In the 2025 edition of KIWG, more than 400 athletes from states, Union Territories (UTs), and institutions, participated as 19 teams in six winter sports.
Highlights:
J&K CM Omar Abdullah Unveils Mascot for KIWG 2025
Chief Minister (CM) of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Omar Abdullah unveiled the mascot for the KIWG 2025, featuring a snow leopard as a symbol of the region’s rich biodiversity and conservation efforts. It has been named Sheen-E-She (Shan). Along with this, he also launched a multimedia campaign and released a special souvenir to mark the occasion.
KIWG 2025 Held in Two Phases Across Ladakh and J&K
The tournament was conducted in two parts:
i.The first phase of the KIWG 2025 took place at the Nawang Dorjay Stobdan (NDS) Sports Complex and Guphuk Pond in Leh, Ladakh from January 23 to 27, 2025.
ii.The second phase of the KIWG 2025 took place from March 9 to 12 at Kangdoori Phase 1 and the Golf Course Club in Gulmarg, J&K. It was originally planned for February 22 to 25, 2025 but was postponed due to less snowfall.
iii.During the first phase, athletes showcased their skills in ice hockey and ice skating. The second phase included competitions in alpine skiing, Nordic skiing, ski mountaineering, and snowboarding.
Official Website for KIWG 2025 Unveiled in Jammu
CM Omar Abdullah launched the official website for KIWG 2025 at the Civil Secretariat in Jammu, with the platform accessible at winter.kheloindia.gov.in.
- The platform is designed to provide real-time updates and comprehensive event details, along with key features to keep users informed about the latest developments in the games.
KIWG 2025 Medal Tally: IA Retains Title, HP Finishes Second
i.The Indian Army (IA) won KIWG 2025 title, finishing at the top with 18 medals, including seven gold, five silver, and six bronze.
Note: The IA also won the 4th edition of Khelo India Winter Games 2024, successfully defending its title in 2025.
ii.Himachal Pradesh (HP) put up a strong fight but had to settle for the runner-up position with a total of 18 medals, consisting of six gold, five silver, and seven bronze.
iii.The UT of Ladakh secured third place, winning seven medals (four gold, two silver, and one bronze).
iv.Maharashtra claimed the fourth spot with 13 medals, including three gold, five silver, and five bronze, followed by Tamil Nadu (TN), which secured fifth place with five medals (three gold and two silver).
Medal tally table for the top five positions in KIWG 2025:
| Rank | State/ UT/ Institution | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Indian Army | 7 | 5 | 6 | 18 |
| 2 | Himachal Pradesh | 6 | 5 | 7 | 18 |
| 3 | Ladakh (UT) | 4 | 2 | 1 | 7 |
| 4 | Maharashtra | 3 | 5 | 5 | 13 |
| 5 | Tamil Nadu | 3 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
Click here to view complete medal tally
Points to Note:
i.15-year-old Nayana Sri Talluri from Telangana made history in speed skating by winning the first gold medal of the event in the women’s 500m short track category and securing a remarkable hat-trick of gold medals.
ii.Aanchal Thakur, an alpine skier from HP, won gold in both the slalom and giant slalom events held in Gulmarg.
About Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS):
Union Minister– Mansukh Mandaviya (Constituency- Porbander, Gujarat)
Minister of State (MoS)– Raksha Nikhil Khadse ( Constituency- Raver, Maharashtra)
