Required snowfall not there; next review after Feb 19: Officials

Srinagar, Feb 17: The 5th edition of the Khelo India Winter Games (KIWG), which was set to be held in Gulmarg from February 22 to 25, has been postponed due to inadequate snowfall.

A fresh assessment will be conducted once snow conditions improve, and a revised schedule will be announced accordingly.

Officials told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), that in consultation with the technical conduct committee, they have decided to postpone the event, as key ski slopes at Affarwat and Bowl lack sufficient snow.

“The required amount of snowfall for competitive games is not there, which is why we had to postpone the event. Unless there is fresh snowfall, it is not possible to conduct the games”, Rauf Tramboo, President Winter Games Association of Jammu and Kashmir (WGAJK) told KNO.

Tramboo added, “We had a detailed meeting on this, and it was decided that the next decision will be taken after February 19, as the weathermen have predicted wet weather conditions, with Gulmarg expected to receive snowfall.”

Around 700 participants, including 650 technical staff, delegates and local athletes were expected to attend the event. This year, 19 teams representing states, Union Territories, and institutional outfits are competing across six disciplines, including alpine skiing, nordic skiing, ski mountaineering and snowboarding.

Earlier, the Jammu and Kashmir government constituted two high-level committees to ensure the successful organisation of the games.

Secretary, J&K Sports Council, Nuzhat Gull had earlier said that all logistical arrangements, including hotel bookings, event management, and infrastructure readiness, had been meticulously completed.

“All we awaited was adequate snowfall for the slopes to be ski-worthy,” Gull had said. However, the absence of fresh snow made it impossible to proceed with skiing and other competitions, leading to the postponement.

The first leg of the Games was held in Ladakh from January 23 to 27, with the NDS Sports Complex and Guphuk Pond staging ice hockey and ice skating events