On Monday, the hosts Ladakh finished on top of the table with impressive performances from their top athletes during the first leg of the Khelo India Winter Games 2025, which concluded on Monday.
As usual, the grand finale saw the thrilling clash in the men’s ice hockey final between the defending champion’s Indian army versus ITBP.
The Indian Army squeezed past ITBP 2-1 to retain the KIWG crown. The second and final phase of KIWG 2025 will be held in J&K's Gulmarg from February 22-25.
Ladakh won two of the four gold medals decided on Monday. Their mixed relay quartet, comprising Stanzin Jampal, Skarma Tsultim, Mohammed Saquaf Raza, and Padma Angmo, clocked 3:02.19 secs to strike gold. Maharashtra (3:03.78 secs) and Telangana (3:04.85 secs) won silver and bronze, respectively.
In another high-voltage clash, hosts Ladakh's women's ice hockey team routed a fancied ITBP team with a 4-0 win in the finals.
Also read: Khelo India Winter Games begin in Ladakh
“It feels amazing and it's a big moment for our team. Last year, we lost to ITBP but this year, we made a strong comeback. A huge thanks to our coach and the Khelo India administration for bringing this event to Ladakh and making this possible for us,” said Padma Chorol, a senior member of the UT Ladakh women's ice hockey team.
Meanwhile, the preparations for the second leg of the KIWG have begun in J&K’s Gulmarg.
The table leaders of the first leg, Ladakh won (7 medals, including four gold), were followed by Tamil Nadu (five medals, including three gold).
Maharashtra finished with the maximum number of medals (10) but only two gold medals meant they finished third.
Maharashtra finished on top in KIWG 2024, winning 20 skating medals, including six gold.
Telangana (2 gold) finished fourth and Karnataka (1 gold) fifth in KIWG 2025.
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