In their second year as hosts, the Union Territory of Ladakh emerged at the top of the Khelo India Winter Games 2025, with the first chapter concluding at the NDS Stadium on January 27. The second and final phase of the KIWG 2025 will be held in Gulmarg, Jammu & Kashmir, from February 22-25.

In the Men’s Ice Hockey final, the Indian Army secured a 2-1 victory over ITBP, while UT Ladakh triumphed in the women’s final, defeating ITBP with a commanding performance. Himachal Pradesh won the bronze.

Army coach Rinchen Tundup shared with SAI Media: “Our team has been playing back-to-back matches, starting with the CEC Cup, followed by the LG Cup, and now the Khelo India event. Despite limited practice time, I am thrilled with the team's performance. We’ve won all three cups, and I’m proud of their efforts. A special thanks to the ITBP team for providing strong competition in today’s final."

In the mixed relay for Ice Skating, the quartet from Ladakh—Stanzin Jampal, Skarma Tsultim, Mohammed Saquaf Raza, and Padma Angmo—set a record time of 3:02.19 seconds to win the gold. Maharashtra clocked 3:03.78 seconds for the silver, while Telangana finished third with 3:04.85 seconds.
Padma Chorol, a senior member of the UT Ladakh women’s ice hockey team, reflected: “It feels amazing, and this moment means a lot to our team. Last year, we lost to ITBP, but this year we made a strong comeback. A big thank you to our coach and the Khelo India administration for bringing this event to Ladakh and making it possible for us.”

In the final skating event on January 27, the 500m women’s long track at Gupuks, Tamil Nadu’s Yashashree claimed the gold with a time of 58.00 seconds. Riya Vilas Gayakwad from Maharashtra won silver (1:04.31), while Srija S Rao of Karnataka took bronze (1:04.93) in a tightly contested finish.
The medal tally for KIWG 2025 saw Ladakh at the top with 7 medals, including four golds. Tamil Nadu followed with five medals, three of which were gold. Maharashtra finished third with 10 medals but only two golds, compared to their dominant performance in KIWG 2024, where they won 20 skating medals, including six golds. Telangana, with two golds, came fourth, while Karnataka, with one gold, secured fifth place in KIWG 2025.

On the inaugural day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir for organizing this significant national sporting event, showcasing the regions as hotspots for winter sports.

In his message, PM Modi emphasized the government’s commitment to promoting sports across India and highlighted how Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir are elevating the country’s sporting culture, boosting tourism, and presenting India’s beauty and diversity on the global stage.

“Our government prioritizes sports development in Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir. With 100 Khelo India Centres in Jammu & Kashmir and three in Ladakh, including a State Centre of Excellence in Leh for athletics, archery, and boxing, we are shaping the region into a hub of sporting excellence,” PM Modi stated. He added, “KIWG 2025 will play a pivotal role in taking our sporting achievements to new heights.”

Union Sports Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, though unable to attend the ceremony, expressed his support for the initiative through a message, calling India a “4D Sports Nation.”

“Our diversity allows us to host a variety of sports: winter games in Leh, adventure sports in the Northeast, beach games in South India, and popular sports along the west coast. This makes India a true 4D sports destination,” Dr. Mandaviya said.

The minister expressed optimism about the country's sporting future by reflecting on India’s recent successes in chess, cricket, the Olympics, and the Paralympics in Paris.