Khelo India Winter Games 2026: Jammu & Kashmir Underperforms at Home Despite Snow Advantage
Gulmarg, Feb 26, KNT: Despite being the host and possessing one of the country’s most snow-rich terrains, Jammu and Kashmir delivered a disappointing performance at the Khelo India Winter Games 2026, finishing well below expectations and trailing even Ladakh in the overall medal standings.
Jammu and Kashmir secured just 1 gold, 1 silver and 2 bronze medals, taking its total tally to 4. The modest showing has drawn attention to systemic gaps in training, athlete grooming and sports administration in a region naturally suited for winter disciplines.
In contrast, Ladakh, with comparatively limited infrastructure and resources, finished with 2 gold, 5 silver and 6 bronze medals, taking its total to 13. The result underscores how effective planning and athlete development can outweigh geographical advantage.
The Army dominated the Games with 9 gold, 6 silver and 8 bronze medals, topping the table with 23 medals. Himachal Pradesh secured second place with 6 gold, 7 silver and 1 bronze, totaling 14. Maharashtra followed with 3 gold, 5 silver and 4 bronze medals, totaling 12.
Haryana finished with 4 gold, 1 silver and 2 bronze medals, totaling 7. Karnataka earned 2 gold, 2 silver and 6 bronze medals, totaling 10. Telangana and CRPF secured 6 medals each, while Uttarakhand and Tamil Nadu finished with 3 medals each.
ITBP secured 2 medals, Andhra Pradesh won 2 silver medals, Chandigarh finished with 2 medals, Kerala and Madhya Pradesh secured 1 gold each, and Delhi managed a single bronze medal.
The underwhelming performance by Jammu and Kashmir has reignited debate over whether the region is fully leveraging its natural advantage. With abundant snowfall, established ski slopes and years of winter tourism branding, expectations were significantly higher.
Sports enthusiasts argue that unless structural reforms are introduced in coaching systems, grassroots talent identification and competitive exposure, Jammu and Kashmir risks remaining a venue for winter sports rather than emerging as a medal-winning force. [KNT]
