GULMARG, FEB 25: The spectacular display of five day sports show of 4th edition of Khelo India Winter Games, 2024 came to an end today at an impressive closing ceremony at Golf Course Gulmarg.
Besides Secretary J&K Sports Council, Nuzhat Gull, who was the chief guest on the occasion, the ceremony was attended by CEO, Gulmarg Development Authority, Waseem Raja, GM Cable Car Corporation, SSP Traffic Rural, 6-time Olympian, athletes, officials and a large number of local people.
The 4th edition of KIWG crowned Army as new champions which clinched the top position with 10 gold, 5 silver and 6 bronze medals followed by first runner up Karnataka with 9 gold & 2 silver medals and 2nd runner up Maharashtra with 7 gold, 8 silver & 7 bronze medals.
J&K is placed at 9th position in the medal tally with 1 gold, 6 Silver and 4 bronze medals.
From hosts Shahid Ahmad Chach clinched sole Gold medal in Verticle Ski Mountaineering while he also won silver in another discipline of Sprint and shared a bronze with three other colleagues in Ski Mountaineering Men Relay group.
Besides Chachi, Shazi Hassan, Sobia Nabi, Shaista Shabir & Vikar also bagged silver medals in Ski Mountaineering Women Sprint, Alpine Skiing Women Slalom and Alpine Skiing Women Parallel and Men Parallel Slalom respectively.
Also, J&K bagged another Silver in Ski Mountaineering Women Relay in which Shazia Hassan, Maryam Farooq and Noorian Latief teamed up to display enthusiastic spirit to clinch the title.
Further, four bronze medals also came in the bucket of J&K including one from Men Relay Ski Mountaineering team and three others were scored by Gousia Gulzar, Mehraj ud Din Bhat and Mehraj Ud Din Khan in individual events.
Speaking at the concluding ceremony, Secretary, Sports Council, Nuzhat Gull expressed gratitude to the Officers and Officials of Divisional Administration, District Administration, Civil Departments and security agencies for rendering their services for succesfull conduct of 4th Edition of Khelo India Winter Games.
She also thanked athletes who came from different parts of the country and displayed their talent and sprit of sportsmanship.
She maintained that athletes participating in KIWG are realizing the dream of Prime Minister, Shri Narander Modi.
“khelo India Games are providing platform to youth from grassroot level to showcase their talent and compete at national level”, she said.
Speaking about the importance of KWIG in cultural enrichment, she said, “these games are helping in the exchange of culture, tradition and languages among athletes and enhance their vision and confidence”.
While appreciating the Local & national media for wide coverage of the event she conveyed the appreciation message of Union Minister of Youth Services & Sports Shri Anurag Thakur for the positive & pivotal role played by the media.
She also thanked all Olympians for officiating the Khelo India Winter Games and enabling professional conduct of national event in which 600 athletes & officials participated.
CEO, Gulmarg Development Authority Waseem Raja also expressed his gratitude to the departments and service providers for successful conduct of KIWG.
The mementos & appreciation certificates were also distributed among the guests and service providers.
