Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya to Open Khelo India Winter Games 2025

Tags: Sports

Why in the news?

• The Khelo India season starts with theKhelo India Winter Games 2025 in Ladakh on 23th January,2025.

Important points:

• Nineteen teams, comprising states, Union Territories and institutional outfits, will compete over five days in two events – ice-hockey and ice-skating.
• This will bethe first part of KIWG 2025. The second part, featuring snow games like skiing, will be hosted by Jammu & Kashmir from February 22-25.
• Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya will be in attendance at the opening ceremony at the iconic Nawang Dorjay Stobdan Sports Complex in Lehon and will declare the Games Open.
• A traditional, Ladhaki-style opening has been planned to welcome 594 participants, of which 428 will be athletes. 
• This will be the second time Ladakh will be hosting the Winter Games, into its fifth edition.
• All teams have arrived in Leh which is at an altitude of 11,562 feet.Himachal Pradesh has the biggest contingent comprising 78 athletes and support staff. Haryana (62), Ladakh (52) and Maharashtra (48) will compete in the Ladakh edition.

ABOUT KHELO INDIA WINTER GAMES:

• Under the Khelo India Scheme, the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports (MYAS) organizes National-level competitions, i.e., Khelo India Youth Games, Khelo India University Games, Khelo India Para Games and Khelo India Winter Games to provide a platform for talented athletes to showcase their sporting and competitive skills.
• Starting in 2020, so far four editions of the Khelo India Winter Games have been successfully conducted with the participation of 36 States/UTs.
•  The fifth edition of Khelo India Winter Games 2025 will be held in the UT of Ladakh and J&K from Jan. 23-27 and Feb. 22-25,respectively, across two ice and four snow disciplines. 
• Apart from tapping talent, the Khelo India Winter Games also showcase a region’s art, culture, and heritage, and promote tourism through sports.