Gulmarg, February 23, 2026: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday inaugurated the 6th edition of the Khelo India Winter Games at Gulmarg, marking the commencement of the four-day mega winter sports event at the country’s premier winter destination.
Welcoming nearly 1,000 athletes and officials from various States and Union Territories, the Lieutenant Governor described the Games as a celebration of India’s sporting legacy, unity and the transformative power of sports. He said the event has evolved into a national festival that reflects the ideals of peace, equality and camaraderie.
Addressing the gathering, the Lieutenant Governor emphasized that the broader objective of the Winter Games is to strengthen national integration. He observed that sports serve as a unifying force in a diverse nation of multiple languages, cultures and traditions, fostering shared aspirations and mutual respect.
Highlighting the challenging nature of winter sports, he remarked that competitions on the ski slopes of Gulmarg test athletes against nature itself, demanding technical mastery, endurance, discipline and resilience. He urged participants to uphold the highest standards of sportsmanship, noting that true character is revealed not only in victory but also in adversity, and that humility in triumph and dignity in defeat define a true athlete.
The Lieutenant Governor stated that disciplines including alpine skiing, Nordic skiing, snowboarding and ski mountaineering would showcase the rigorous training and dedication of the athletes. He added that the identity of sportspersons on the slopes is determined solely by performance, skill and perseverance.
Referring to the transformation of the sports sector in Jammu and Kashmir under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said the establishment of modern sports infrastructure under the Prime Minister’s Development Package and the setting up of 100 Khelo India Centres have significantly strengthened the sporting ecosystem in the Union Territory.
The Lieutenant Governor expressed confidence that the success of the Games would be measured not merely by medals but by the spirit of unity, mutual respect and pursuit of excellence displayed by the participants. The closing ceremony is scheduled for February 26.
Among those present on the occasion were Chief Minister Omar Abdullah; Minister for Youth Services and Sports Satish Sharma; Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani; MLA Gulmarg Farooq Ahmed Shah; Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo; senior civil and police officials; representatives of the Sports Authority of India; members of the J&K Sports Council; and prominent sports personalities.
