The KIWG 2025 will bring together 19 teams from various states, Union Territories, and institutions to compete in a five-day sporting extravaganza. The first phase of the competition will feature ice hockey and ice skating, with events taking place at two key venues—the NDS Sports Complex and Gupuks Pond, where short and long-form skating will be held. Ice hockey matches are set to take place at both the NDS Complex and the Ladakh Scouts Regimental Centre.

As the region gears up for this exciting event, the second phase of the games, focused on snow sports such as skiing, will take place in Jammu and Kashmir from February 22 to 25, 2025.

A total of 594 participants, including 428 athletes, are part of this year’s games. The opening ceremony, set to showcase traditional Ladakhi customs, will be broadcast live on Doordarshan Sports, with daily live streaming continuing through January 27.

The competition promises to be fierce, particularly in ice hockey, where teams from the Army, ITBP, Himachal Pradesh, and Ladakh are expected to battle it out for supremacy. The Army and ITBP have both dominated past KIWG and national titles, with the ITBP women’s team defending their championship and the Army men’s team looking to extend their winning streak.

In the 2024 edition, Maharashtra excelled in skating, winning 20 medals, including six golds. Karnataka also performed admirably, securing second place with six gold medals and a total of eight medals. Host region Ladakh made history by winning two gold medals in speed skating, finishing third with an impressive 13 medals overall.

Himachal Pradesh leads this year’s contingent, with a strong team of 78 athletes and support staff, followed by Haryana (62), Ladakh (52), and Maharashtra (48). The competition promises to showcase the strength and determination of India’s winter sports talent and further solidify the growing importance of winter sports in the country.

With the scenic backdrop of Ladakh’s stunning landscapes and the high-altitude atmosphere of Leh, the Khelo India Winter Games 2025 are set to be a truly memorable event, combining fierce competition with the rich cultural heritage of the region.

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Bhaker kicked off India’s medal tally in Paris by clinching third place in the women’s individual 10m air pistol event. This historic bronze not only marked her as the first Indian woman shooter to win an Olympic medal but also added another impressive chapter to her already accomplished career.

She wasn’t done there. Bhaker, in partnership with fellow shooter Sarabjot Singh, bagged her second bronze in the 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team event. The pair showcased exceptional skill and consistency, defeating South Korea’s Lee Wonho and Oh Ye Jin 16-10 in the thrilling bronze medal play-off. Their victory marked India’s first-ever shooting team medal at the Olympics.

Despite missing out on a potential historic treble by finishing just outside the medal zone in fourth place in the women’s 25m pistol event, Bhaker’s dual bronze success in Paris solidified her position as India’s most successful female shooter of all time. Her medal collection already includes golds from the World Championships, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, and Youth Olympic Games.

This success is particularly poignant for Bhaker, given her previous heartbreak at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, where a malfunctioning pistol denied her a shot at an Olympic medal in the same event. Her remarkable resilience and unwavering determination have now propelled her to the pinnacle of shooting sports in India.

Born on February 18, 2002, in Jhajjar, Haryana, Bhaker began her sporting journey by exploring a variety of disciplines, including tennis, skating, and boxing. She also earned accolades in ‘thang ta’, a form of martial arts, before fully dedicating herself to shooting, where she has since become a global sensation.

India’s performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics was a testament to the country’s growing sporting prowess. In addition to Bhaker’s achievements, India earned a total of six medals, including one silver and five bronze. Swapnil Kusale contributed a bronze in the men’s 50m rifle 3 positions event, while the Indian men’s hockey team won a historic back-to-back bronze for the first time in 52 years, defeating Spain 2-1.

In track and field, javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra narrowly missed defending his Tokyo gold, but he secured a silver with a throw of 89.45m. Wrestler Aman Sehrawat made an impactful debut, clinching a bronze with a 13-5 victory over Puerto Rico’s Darian Cruz.

India’s performance in Paris highlights the country’s rising strength across a broad spectrum of sports, paving the way for even more success in the years to come.

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