Editorial | Khelo India winter games in Kashmir

Jammu and Kashmir is hosting the third edition of the Khelo India Winter Games at the world-famous Ski resort Gulmarg. Over 1500 athletes from 29 states of India have arrived to participate in 11 sporting events. This is the second time Gulmarg is hosting the Khelo India winter games.

The Union Minister for Sports Anurag Thakur along with LG of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha kick-started the games today. The five-day event will be attended by hundreds of athletes of the country.

Around 1,500 players from across the country converged in snow-covered Gulmarg in Kashmir on Friday to take part in the winter games here, aspiring to make it to international platforms like the Winter Olympics.

Acc to The Hindu, Mr. Thakur proposed the settting up of a Centre of Excellence in Gulmarg to hone the skills of sportspersons. “We will be spending ₹6 lakh on an athlete’s training and other facilities once selected. We have sanctioned 40 ‘Khelo India’ centres for J&K. It is the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji to create sporting infrastructure across India. The setting up of a National Centre of Excellence in the Valley will support the athletes of J&K,” he said.