Leh, 23, January 2025: The Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor, Brigadier (Dr) BD Mishra (Retd) and First Lady Smt. Neelam Mishra attended the opening ceremony of the 5th Khelo India Winter Games held at the NDS Ice Hockey Rink in Leh. Regional Executive Director, Sports Authority of India presented a memento to the HLG on the occasion.

The HLG addressed the gathering, emphasizing the significance of the event for Ladakh and the Khelo India initiative, given the immense enthusiasm for ice hockey in the region.

The HLG extended his gratitude to the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, for introducing such youth-centric programs. He highlighted that India boasts numerous similar initiatives and urged the youth to take full advantage of these opportunities. Additionally, the HLG expressed confidence that India could successfully host the Olympics in 2036, referencing the large crowds managed during the Mahakumbh at PrayagRaj in Uttar Pradesh.

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Addressing the decline in tourist footfall last season, the HLG mentioned ongoing efforts to attract more tourists to Ladakh. He urged that taxi fares, hotel rates, and other tourism-related services be kept reasonable and adequate. Furthermore, he assured that youth engaged in ice hockey would be provided appropriate employment opportunities through the army, and the Union Territory Administration would explore additional employment avenues.

In a significant announcement, the HLG declared ice hockey as the State Game of UT Ladakh. He also shared that the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, who could not arrive in Leh this morning, has approved the participation of the Indian Ice Hockey Team in the 9^th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, China. This news is particularly exciting for the youth of Ladakh, who have the opportunity to be selected for Team India based on their performance here.

Earlier on the occasion both the CECs spoke on the importance of Ice Hockey in the region and they expressed gratitude to the HLG and the organizing committee for successfully opening the 5th Khelo India Winter Games in Ladakh.

CEC, LAHDC-Leh, Advocate Tashi Gyaltson; CEC LAHDC-Kargil, Dr. Mohd Jaffer Akhon; Advisor to the HLG, Dr. Pawan Kotwal, IAS; DGP Ladakh, Dr. SD Singh Jamwal, IPS; 14 Corps Commander, Lt Gen. Hitesh Balla; IG, ITBP, NorthWest Frontier, Dr. Akhun Sabrawal, IPS; Executive Councillors of LAHDC Leh and Kargil, Councillors of LAHDC Leh and Kargil, Principal Secretary/Secretaries of UT Administration Ladakh, Officers from DG SAI, Regional Executive Director SAI, and concerned officers of youth affairs & sports and officials were present during the occasion.