The Aryavarth Express
Agency (Jammu and Kashmir): The Army team emerged victorious at the Khelo India Winter Games 2024, held in Gulmarg, Jammu and Kashmir, clinching the top spot in the medal tally. Their success was sealed by alpine skier Bobby Pandey’s triumph in the parallel slalom event on the Kangdoori slopes, marking the final day of the competition. This crucial win brought the Army’s gold medal count to ten, narrowly surpassing Karnataka, who finished with nine golds.
Bobby Pandey’s victory was a decisive moment for the Army, edging out Karnataka, who had shown remarkable performance throughout the games. Notably, Karnataka’s success was largely attributed to their ice skaters’ excellent performance in Ladakh and top skier Thekkada Bhavani Nanjunda’s extraordinary achievements in Gulmarg. Bhavani, a 28-year-old certified trainer and mountaineer, made history by winning three gold medals, a unique feat in this edition of the games.
Maharashtra, which led the medal tally during the first round in Ladakh from February 2-5, ended in third place overall. Meanwhile, Mehak from Uttarakhand clinched the gold medal in the women’s parallel slalom event. Uttarakhand’s strong showing in skiing events earned them fifth place in the standings, with a total of three gold medals. Himachal Pradesh, led by Aanchal Thakur’s double gold, finished fourth with four golds.
The Army’s impressive medal haul included nine golds won in the Gulmarg phase of the games, in addition to an ice hockey gold secured earlier in Ladakh. Key contributors to their success were snowboarder Kulvinder Sharma and Nordic skier Padma Namgial, each winning two individual gold medals.
The Khelo India Winter Games 2024 witnessed high-quality technical management by the Sports Authority of India. The involvement of six Olympians, including Shiva Keshavan and Arif Mohammed Khan, added to the prestige and effective execution of the event. The games showcased a blend of emerging talents and established athletes, highlighting the growing prominence of winter sports in India.
