Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Kavinder Gupta, on January 25 reaffirmed the UT Administration’s commitment to developing Ladakh as India’s winter sports capital, highlighting sports as a key instrument for youth empowerment and a drug-free society.

The Lt Governor was interacting with athletes participating in the ongoing sixth Khelo India Winter Games 2026 at the Indoor Hall of the Nawang Dorjay Stobdan (NDS) Stadium.

Athletes from Jammu and Kashmir, Chandigarh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Telangana, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Maharashtra appreciated the improved facilities and warm hospitality in Ladakh compared to previous editions. They praised the state-of-the-art ice-hockey rink and shared suggestions to further enhance the standard of future Games, noting that the Khelo India initiative transcended geographical barriers.

The Lt Governor said the UT Administration had made every effort to ensure participants returned home with memorable experiences from Ladakh. He described sports as a powerful medium for cultural exchange and linguistic integration, calling it one of India’s greatest strengths.

Praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision, he said the Khelo India platform had enabled young athletes from across the country to showcase their talent. He added that the UT Administration, in coordination with the Sports Authority of India (SAI), was committed to providing world-class infrastructure for sportspersons.

Highlighting plans to link sports development with tourism, the Lt Governor spoke of promoting year-round sporting and tourism activities in Ladakh. He also announced that a modern ice-hockey stadium would soon be constructed in Kargil to strengthen winter sports infrastructure in the region.

Inviting teams from across the country to hold winter sports training camps in Ladakh, he reiterated the Administration’s resolve to continuously upgrade facilities and position Ladakh as the country’s premier winter sports hub.

Emphasising the role of sports in youth development, the Lt Governor urged athletes to act as ambassadors of drug awareness, stating that sports played a crucial role in keeping young people away from substance abuse. He also called upon them to contribute actively towards the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.

Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra highlighted the significant improvement in sports infrastructure in Ladakh in recent years. He invited teams from Chandigarh and Haryana to train in the region and proposed the establishment of a Centre of Excellence for winter sports to attract national-level talent.

Administrative Secretary Bhanu Prabha, Administrative Secretary (Youth Services and Sports) Moses Kunzang, and senior officials from the Sports Authority of India and the UT Administration were also present during the interaction