In pics: Gulmarg hosts third edition of Khelo India

Khelo India was a sports movement under which Youth Games, University Games and Winter Games are conducted throughout the year.

Srinagar, Feb 10: The ski resort of Gulmarg in Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla district hosted the third edition of Khelo India National Winter Games on Friday.

Over 1500 players have arrived here from 29 states and union territories of the country to take part in 11 sporting events over the period of next six days. This will be biggest event of Winter Games in the country so far.

Khelo India was a sports movement under which Youth Games, University Games and Winter Games are conducted throughout the year.

The main attractions are snow shoe race, ice skating, ice hockey, skiing, nordic ski, snowboarding, ski mountaineering and ice stock.

Union Minister Anurag Thakur on Friday said sports not only was a unifying platform but also reflected the soft power of the country.

"Sports is a soft power. When a player wins an international medal, it unites the country. Gold medal by Neeraj Chopra ended India's 121-year wait for athletics gold at the Olympics. This sparked celebrations across the country," he said.

Thakur said that last year was big for Indian sports as athletes from various fields excelled in their respective games at international events. "We had the highest medal tally at the Summer Olympics and paralympics. P V Sindhu won back to back Olympic medals in badminton, which is no mean feat," he added.

Earlier, the minister e-inaugurated 40 Khelo India sports centres which have come up in Jammu and Kashmir.

"It is a moment of pride that what other states could not do JK has done. All districts of JK have an indoor stadium and playgrounds have come up across the UT," he said. Thakur said Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants big sports centres to come up so that sportspersons of the country can excel.

"A sports university is coming up in Manipur and a centre of excellence in winter sports will soon come up in Gulmarg," he said.

The minister said the situation has vastly changed in Jammu and Kashmir in the past three years. "Places where stone pelting was common, we now have sports flourishing and see budding players. If you see lights on at night, you will find Kashmiri youths practising their sports. That's how much the situation has changed in Jammu and Kashmir," he added.

Thakur promised all support to players from Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of the country. "We will continue our support to you. You need facilities, coaches or funds, we will provide it," he said.

Referring to the record-breaking tourist arrivals in Jammu and Kashmir last year, the minister said the stakeholders in the sector will have to be innovative to increase the footfall of visitors. "Snow cricket can be one innovation that can improve tourism in Kashmir," he said.

with PTI inputs