Ongoing Khelo India National Winter Games in Gulmarg Sees Participation of Over 1,200 People

by  EVENTFAQS Bureau Entertainment | March 2, 2021 | News

Khelo India Narendra Modi J&K Sports Council Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports Kiren Rijiju

The second edition of the Khelo India Winter Games, organized by the J&K Sports Council and the Winter Games Association of J&K under the aegis of the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, was launched on February 26 in Gulmarg, Jammu & Kashmir. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the sports meet virtually, and Union Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports Kiren Rijiju was present during the ceremony at Golf Club, Gulmarg along with Manoj Sinha, Lt Governor, J&K, and a host of other dignitaries. The sports meet will go on till March 2.

The second edition of the Games has participation of over 1,200 people, including 600 athletes across 27 States and Union Territories. The participation list of athletes also includes those from the Indian Army and the Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering and Winter Sports. The various sports disciplines include sprint, speed skating, ice hockey, figure skating, ice stock, giant slalom, snow-boarding, vertical race, cross country, snowshoe, long distance running, ski mountaineering, skiing and Nordic ski.

Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister Modi said, “The second edition of Khelo India-Winter Games is a major step towards making Jammu and Kashmir a major hub with India's effective presence in the Winter Games. Winter Games in Jammu & Kashmir would help in developing a new sporting ecosystem, this event would instill new spirit and enthusiasm in the tourism sector in Jammu & Kashmir. Sports has become an area in which countries of the world project their soft power.”

The Prime Minister said that sports have a global dimension and this vision has been guiding the recent reforms in the sports ecosystem, and there is a holistic approach from the Khelo India campaign to the Olympic podium. Hand-holding of sports professionals is being done from recognition of talent at grassroot level to bringing them to the highest global platform. From talent recognition to team selection, transparency is the Government’s priority and dignity of sportspeople, and recognition of their contribution is being ensured, said the Prime Minister.

Union Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju said, “We had announced that we would create a state-of-the-art winter sports academy here. Now, we are happy to inform that all the procedures are in place to get the world standard institute opened here soon. Funds have already been allocated. Out of 100 small Khelo India centres we had announced across all districts of the valley, 40 are already approved and the remaining 60 will be approved in the next financial year in Jammu. Retired players, coaches can run these centers and give back to sports, while earning a dignified source of livelihood. We have also opened two KISCEs here, focusing on the disciplines of judo, fencing and rowing. In Srinagar too, we have decided on opening a water sports facility which may be completed by April or May. Also, we have decided to give a Khelo India academy accreditation to the Mata Vaishnodevi sports complex.”

Manoj Joshi, Lt. Governor, J&K said, “We want to give the message of unity, love, empowerment and peace through the games in the beautiful valley of Gulmarg. We are ranked 14 among winter sports destinations in the world, but with the support of our PM, Minister Kiren Rijiju, the Central Government, the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, the UT sports department and sports council, and especially the energy of the youth, J&K will get to be among the Top 5.”

The J&K administration has put in place a special team of doctors and ambulances round the clock for the duration of the event, along with a special team of the State Disaster Response Fund for relief and rescue operations.