Around 800 athletes arrived in Kashmir on Tuesday to participate in the fourth edition of Khelo India Winter Games, as the venue, Gulmarg, received more than three feet of fresh snowfall in the past 48 hours.
An official said the athletes from across the country will participate in events like snowboarding, alpine skiing, Nordic skiing, and ski mountaineering. “The field of play has been set up by the best technical teams. We aim to provide international standards to the players. Snow beaters have been made functional to set the stage for the games,” Nuzhat Gul, secretary, J&K Sports Council, said.
Gulmarg is one of the few destinations in the country deemed fit for winter games. “This is the highest platform for those interested in winter games. Players have to compete and achieve ranks to eventually compete in the bigger sports events like Olympics. Even local players are exposed to level of competition through these events,” Ms. Gul said.
