Maharashtra secured ice-skating gold on Day 3 of the Khelo India Winter Games 2024 in Ladakh. Karnataka continues to dominate the medal tally with four gold out of eight awarded so far.

In the ice-skating short-track events at the NDS Stadium in Leh, Varsha Puranik, showcased exceptional skill by winning both the 300m and 500m races for women above 17 years.
After winning the 300m short track race for women in the above 17 years’ category on February 3, the 37-year-old athlete triumphed in the 500m version on February 4. Varsha once again displayed her dominance, leading from start to finish and clinching the race in an impressive time of 1:07.78 seconds.

Telangana secured the second position on the medal tally, largely attributed to the remarkable performances of Nayana Sri Talluri. Nayana Sri achieved a short track double by claiming victory in the 500m race in the women’s Under-17 final on February 4. Nayana Sri, the 15-year-old talent from Hyderabad, is rapidly becoming one of the rising stars in her division. Telangana is making its second appearance in the Khelo Winter Games, following a successful debut at Gulmarg, Jammu and Kashmir in February 2023, where they secured five ice skating medals.

Maharashtra surged to the third position in the standings after Aarav Patwardhan secured the men’s under-17 500 meters short track gold on February 4. Notably, this victory marked the state's first gold in Khelo India Winter Games 2024. The event witnessed a fiercely contested race, with Patwardhan (54.55 sec) employing various strategies to deny Telangana’s Pranav Surapaneni (55.65) the lead in the five-lap race.

With an impressive collection of seven silver and five bronze medals, Maharashtra currently boasts the largest haul of 13 medals in the Games. Uttar Pradesh remains at the fourth place, with their sole ice skating gold earned on February 2.

While all medals so far have been awarded to ice-skaters, the ice-hockey competition is heating up, with matches at the NDS Stadium and the Ladakh Scouts Regimental Centre Ice hockey rink.

In the men’s ice-hockey group league matches, ITBP and Himachal Pradesh from Group A, as well as Army and UT Ladakh team from Group B, have qualified for the semifinals, scheduled on February 5.

In the women’s division, ITBP and Ladakh are expected to vie for gold, while Himachal Pradesh and Telangana are likely contenders for the bronze in the upcoming ice-hockey match  

SKATING RESULTS AT A GLANCE
 
Women’s 17+ short track (500m) final:
1. Varsha Puranik (1:07.78 sec) Karnataka
2. Janvi Chordia (1:10.78) Maharashtra
3. Swaralli Deo (1:12.62) Maharashtra
 
Women’s Under-17 short track (500m) final:
1. Nayana Sri Talluri (1:05.66 seconds) Telangana
2. Swaroopa Kadeshmukh (1:07.22 sec) Maharashtra
3. Skama Tsulltim (1:10.49 sec) UT-Ladakh
 
Men’s Under-17 short track (500m) final:
1.     Aarav Patwardhan (54.55 seconds) Maharashtra
2.     Pranav Surapaneni (55.65 sec) Telangana
3.     Advay Kothari (55.93 sec) Maharashtra
 
ICE HOCKEY RESULTS AT A GLANCE
 
Men’s Group A: Union Territory of J&K beat Haryana 5-0; ITBP beat Himachal Pradesh 4-0.
Men’s Group B: Rajasthan beat Maharashtra 1-0; Army beat UT Ladakh 4-1
Women’s round-robin league: ITBP beat Himachal Pradesh 6-2; Ladakh beat Telangana 12-0.