All eyes on Himachal Pradesh as Khelo India Winter Games hits Gulmarg

Gulmarg: As the sixth edition of the Khelo India Winter Games (KIWG) moves to the slopes of Gulmarg from Monday, Himachal Pradesh will look to capitalise on its recent dominance in snow sports.Their consistently strong performances in previous editions have significantly heightened expectations for the state to deliver another standout showing in the snow sports disciplines: alpine skiing, ski mountaineering, snowboarding and Nordic skiing.
Himachal has charted an impressive upward trajectory across the first five editions of the KIWG, evolving from a promising participant to a dominant force in India's winter sports landscape.In the inaugural 2020 edition, Himachal's contingent made a modest but valuable debut, gaining crucial national-stage experience amid a medal table dominated by hosts steeped in snow culture.The 2021 edition saw greater participation and over 1,000 athletes competing nationwide. Himachal began carving out a foothold, with early glimpses of podium potential in alpine and Nordic events signaling brighter days ahead.The breakthrough arrived in the third edition in 2023, when Himachal Pradesh surged into the upper echelons. Defying stiff competition from traditional powerhouses, the team claimed 10 gold, 14 silver, and 7 bronze medals, securing third place overall. This marked their emergence as serious national contenders, with Himachali flags now prominently fluttering on alpine slopes once monopolized by others.The 2024 edition solidified their status. Himachal amassed 15 medals — 5 gold, 4 silver, and 6 bronze — finishing second in the national standings, a remarkable feat given the state's relatively limited dedicated winter sports infrastructure compared to some rivals.Standout performers fueled this rise. Manali's Aanchal Thakur, became a cornerstone of the state's success. The trailblazing alpine skier, who in 2018 became the first Indian to win a medal at an International Ski Federation event, delivered in key moments. She secured two gold medals in the 2025 KIWG edition in the alpine skiing slalom and giant slalom events. "I started skiing at the age of five years and have over 20 years of experience in this sport. At Khelo India Winter Games, the atmosphere inspires us athletes to work hard for our states and country," Aanchal said.Other highlights from recent years include snowboarder Preeti Thakur's gold.The 2025 edition delivered Himachal's most convincing display yet: 6 gold, 5 silver and 7 bronze medals, tying them for joint second overall alongside the Indian Army, who is a perennial powerhouse with 18 medals each. Athletes like Tenzin Dolma (gold in women's ski mountaineering vertical race) and Natasha Mahar (silver in the same event for a Himachal one-two) exemplified endurance and excellence. Yogesh Kumar claimed gold in men's alpine slalom, while snowboarding talents such as Sakshi Thakur and Natasha Mahar added versatility and depth.From tentative steps in 2020-2021 to consistent medal leadership by 2024-2025, Himachal's story at the KIWG is one of ambition, individual brilliance, and team synergy.Photo credit: KIWG