With eyes on international events, 600 athletes ski down on Gulmarg slopes

600 athletes in Gulmarg for Khelo India Winter Games, aiming to represent India at international events like Olympics.

With eyes to represent India at the international events like Olympics, around 600 athletes on Wednesday hit the thick snow slopes of Gulmarg in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district in a four-day event. 

“Khelo India Winter Game unfolds vast opportunities for the young generation to make a professional career and represent the nation at international level,” Joginder Kumar, an athlete from Haryana, said.

Around 600 athletes will participate in events of Alpine ski, Nordic ski, and snow mountaineering.

Twenty women athletes are also participating in the games, including two from Gujarat, two from Himachal Pradesh, two from Ladakh and one each from Karnataka, Meghalaya, Haryana and Uttarakhand.

“Players are in high spirits to display their potential and skill to take home medals, experience and resplendent memories,” Geeta Thakur, a coach of Snow Boarding from Uttarakhand representing ITBP, said.

Kashmir’s Gulmarg offers rare slopes in the country to prepare for international events like Olympics because of the quality of the snow.

“Gulmarg has received powdery snow. We have ridge lines at an altitude of 4000 metres. The quality of snow befits the event. Athletes will love this condition of snow,” Rauf Tramboo, a member of the technical team, said.