* Army sweeps high three positions in Nordic Skiing for Men, Karnataka tops Women Nordic Skiing

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

GULMARG, Feb 21: After curtains for 2nd Phase of 4th Khelo India Winter Game have been raised, the festivities of celebrations kicked on the earlier chilly & serene evening.
With the stage laid open, the Jammu & Kashmir Sports Council and related departments with shut coordination & synergy on first Day organized two occasions of Nordic Skiing one every for Women & Men class.
The Event of Nordic Women Skiing for Sprint 1.6 KM began on the Golf Culb with supporting officers facilitating individuals assigning them chest numbers and putting in timers on the ending & beginning factors.
Twenty Women athletes who participated within the first recreation of the season symbolize totally different states and organizations together with ten from ITBP, two from Gujarat, two from Himachal Pradesh, two Ladakh and one every from Karnataka, Meghalaya, Haryana & Uttarakhand.
Bhavani Thekkada from Karnataka emerged the winner within the Nordic Sports occasion whereas Selma Soreng and Sapna of ITBP received second and third place respectively.
While the 2nd Sports occasion scheduled for the day for Nordic Men for Sprint 10 KM witnessed the enthusiastic participation of thirty-three gamers together with ten from Army, 9 from ITBP, 5 J&Okay, two every from Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jaharkhand, Karnataka, and one from West Bengal.
In males’s class, all three positions have been taken by Army as Padma Namgail achieved first place, Mangeet second whereas Rameez Ahmad Paddar settled with third place.
The gamers donning the jerseys and Skiing equipments have been pushing themselves in opposition to slopes overcoming the friction made rounds alongside the observe with concentrate on to scale the highest place. Some of the participant have been recent whereas others had second or third alternative carrying with them the previous expertise.
Geeta Thakur, a coach of Snow Boarding from Uttarakhand representing ITBP, whereas talking concerning the ongoing Winter Games of Khelo India mentioned that with the advance within the climate, gamers are in excessive spirits to show their potential & ability to take dwelling medals, expertise & resplendent reminiscences.
Gulmarg is offering distinctive alternative, which is best than different locations, to channelize the expertise of children for larger occasions like Olympics.
She appreciated Officers of J&Okay Sports Council for making all of the preparations together with Transport & lodging services.
Rajesh Thakur participant of Nordic Skiing Sprint 10 KM, representing ITBP, who has participated in all of the three Khelo India Winter Games and can be collaborating right this moment within the fourth version. Sharing his expertise Thakur says that he feels excited right this moment because the snow accumulation is significantly better and the climate can be nice. He expressed gratitude to the Centre & UT governments for enhancing the services all around the locations.
Talking concerning the preparations, he showered all reward to J&Okay Sports Council and said that gamers really feel at dwelling and the officers are fully supporting.
Joginder Kumar, from Haryana mentioned that the gamers from the state arrived two days earlier than which offered them ample time to follow and refresh for the competitions.
He expressed that every one Khelo India Winter Game unfolds huge alternatives for the younger era to make knowledgeable profession and symbolize nation at worldwide degree.
“This event unites Nation by Youth & Culture exchange besides helps players to understand & Know one another”, he maintained.
The video games commenced amid the standard native cultural presentation of Bandpether wielding the event with music and soulful essence
One of the various points of interest of KIWG is the Snow Leopard Mascot, the position is being performed by Adil, an worker of J&Okay Sports council.
He has been enthralling the spectacle with choreographed strikes for the second time in KIWG mentioned that the Snow Leopard is usually discovered within the mountains of J&Okay which represents agility & energy.