In their second year as hosts, the Union Territory of Ladakh finished top of the Khelo India 2025 Winter Games, the first quarter of which concluded at the NDS Stadium on Monday. As always, the grand finale saw a thrilling men’s ice hockey final and Indian Army beat ITBP 2-1 to retain the KIWG title. The second and final leg of KIWG 2025 will be held in J&K’s Gulmarg from February 22 to 25.
Ladakh won two of the four gold medals decided on Monday. The mixed relay quartet, including Stanzin Jambal, Skarmah Tsultem, Mohammad Saqqaf Reza and Padma Angmo, clocked 3:02.19 seconds to take the gold medal. Maharashtra (3:03.78 seconds) and Telangana (3:04.85 seconds) won silver and bronze respectively.
There was more joy for the local fans. In what was sweet revenge, the Ladakh girls beat an impressive ITBP side 4-0 to take top spot in the women’s league in the home-and-away league format at the packed NDS Stadium complex. Women’s ice hockey only started last year and interestingly, Ladakh lost the final to ITBP by a score of 4-0. Himachal Pradesh won the bronze medal.
“It’s a great feeling and it’s a big moment for our team. Last year, we lost to ITBP but this year, we made a strong comeback. A big thank you to our coach and Khelo India management for bringing this event to the table,” said Padma Chorul, senior member of UT Ladakh women’s ice hockey team. To Ladakh and make it possible for us.”
Tamil Nadu has shown why it is emerging as a hub for budding skiers. In the final skating event held on Monday, the women’s 500m event (in Gobox) saw Yashashree win Tamil Nadu’s third gold medal at KIWG 2025. She clocked a time of 00:58.00 seconds. Riya Vilas Gayakwad of Maharashtra (1:04.31 sec) and Sreeja S Rao of Karnataka (1:04.93 sec) won silver and bronze respectively in the tightest finishes.
The KIWG 2025 leaders Ladakh (7 medals, including four golds) were followed by Tamil Nadu (five medals, including three golds). Maharashtra finished with the maximum number of medals (10) but only two gold medals meant they finished third. Maharashtra finished first at KIWG 2024, winning 20 medals in skating including six golds. Telangana (two golds) finished fourth and Karnataka (one gold) finished fifth at KIWG 2025.
Army defended its ice hockey title but only after surviving some close moments. Supported by their young and boisterous fans from the Ladakh Scouts Regiment Centre, who sang a popular Bollywood song from the movie Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, the Army team looked charged from the first minute. Monday’s win was even sweeter because Army lost to ITBP 3-1 in a league match on Saturday.
In Monday’s final, there were no goals in the first two periods and all three goals came in the final 15 minutes of play. It was a fast-paced encounter between two well-rounded teams that fielded several national-level players.
Al-Jaish took the lead in the third minute of the final half. Rigzin Norboo capped off a brilliant pass from national player Dorjay Angchok to give Army the lead with a clever finish at the far post. Army lost the lead after an unmarked Rigzin Norboo equalized for ITBP with an assist from Tashi Namgyel in the 13th minute. Angchuk once again played a key role as Padma Norboo kept his cool to make it 2-1 for Army with a minute to go.
“Our team has been playing back-to-back matches, starting with the CEC Cup, then the LG Cup, and now Khelo India,” Army coach Rinchen Tundup told SAI Media. We didn’t have much time to train, but I’m happy that the team performed well. We won all three cups, and I am happy with their performance. I also want to thank the ITBP team for giving us tough competition in today’s final.”
Results of the fifth day (January 27)
Ice hockey
NDS Men’s Final: Indian Army beat ITBP 2-1; The losers in the semi-finals, Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh, won the bronze medal.
NDS Women’s Final League: Ladakh beat ITBP 4-0 to clinch the gold medal. Himachal Pradesh won the bronze medal.
Figure Skating (all finals)
MIX Relay (at NDS): 1. Utah – Ladakh (Stanzin Jampal, Skarma Tsultem, Mohammad Saqqaf Raza, Padma Angmo) 3:02.19 seconds 2. Maharashtra (Ishan Darvekar, Vyom Sawant, Swaroopa Deshmukh, Anvay Deshpande) 3:03.78 seconds 3. Telangana (Pranav Madhav, Vishnu, Nayana Sri, Geetika) 3:04.85 seconds.
Women’s 500m long track (in Gobok): 1. Yashashree (Tamil Nadu) 00:58.00 seconds; 2. Rhea Vilas Gayakwad (Maharashtra) 1:04.31 seconds 3. Srija S Rao (Karnataka) 1:04.93 seconds.
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