Sports Minister inaugurates first ever Khelo India Winter Games in Gulmarg

Union Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju on Saturday inaugurated first ever Khelo India Winter Games at Gulmarg amid huge applause from sport lovers.

The first ever Khelo India Winter Games are being held inGulmarg from March 7 to 11 and will see participation of around 900 players andofficials from different parts of country including hosts J&K. The five dayevent organised by Winter Games Association of J&K alongwith J&K StateSports Council with active support from Ministry of Youth Affairs and SportsGovernment of India will have competitions of Skiing, Snowboarding,SnowShoeing, Ski Mountaineering, Skating, Ice Stock, Snow Rugby andSnowbaseball.

   

It is first time that Khelo Indian Games, which isinitiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has been extended to Winter Games.

He termed it a historic occasion not only for J&K butfor entire country.

“I want to tell you it is historic occasion as first timeever Khelo India Winter Games are being held in winter sports disciplines. Itis great sightseeing athletes all over India with beautiful landscapes aroundthem,” he said.

Rijiju announced that aGovernment would set up National Sports Excellence of Winter Sports in Gulmarg.

“Sports Ministry, J&KGovernment, Sports Authority of India, Sports Council are unanimously workingon to take number initiatives for J&K. In that regard here I am announcingthat Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports would be establishing a state of theart National Sports Excellence of Winter Sports Centre in Gulmarg,” he said.

“Another initiative that I am announcing is that a retiredsportsperson or non-retired sports person who will form academy would beassisted by Government with a support of Rs five lakhs.”

“These academies will be supported by Government will befeeder centre for centre of excellence and other top academies,” he said.

 He said thegovernment would send large contingent for winter Olympics.

“We have got our winter sports destinations and would liketo send big winter sports contingents in future from India for the WinterOlympics. We are aiming to make India major winter sports destinations,” hesaid.

Earlier Commissioner Secretary Youth Services and SportsJ&K Sarmad Hafeez said J&K has got massive sports infrastructure push.”Apart from redevelopment two of mains stadium of J&K, we are buildingindoor stadiums in every district of J&K. Some have been completed and somewill get completed shortly,” Sarmad said.

Winter Games Association of J&K President Abbas Waniduring his vote of thanks thanked Government of India for holding such megaevent in Gulmarg.

“We have hosted lot of events in Gulmarg and it may be firsttime that Union Sports Minister has inaugurated the event. It takes years toprepare for such event and we have done that in one month,” Wani said.

The inaugurationceremony was attended by Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Farooq Khan; DG SportsAuthority of India, Sandeep Pradhan; Principal, High Altitude Warfare School(HAWS), Major General Atul Kaushik; Secretary, Youth Services and Sports,Sarmad Hafeez; DG Youth Services and Sports, Dr Saleem ul Rehman; DeputyCommissioner, Baramulla, Dr Ghulam Nabi Itoo; Secretary, J&K SportsCouncil, Dr Naseem Javid Choudhary besides other senior officers of civil andpolice administration.

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