Kiren Rijiju inauguartes first-ever Khelo India Zanskar Winter Sports Festival in Ladakh!

Ladakh, Jan 22: Union Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Kiren Rijiju in presence of Lieutenant Governor, Ladakh R K Mathur and Member Parliament (MP) Ladakh Jamyang Tsering Namgyal attended the ongoing Zanskar Winter Sports and Youth Festival at Zanskar Ski School Padum. He further assured sports infrastructure development in the Union Territory.

 

 

"Inaugurated the spectacular Khelo India Winter Sports Festival at Zanskar, Ladakh. LG Ladakh RK Mathur Ji, MP Namgyal and large numbers of people participated. This area used to remain cut off from the rest of the world for 5-6 months due to heavy snow but no more now!" the Minister said.

 

Further, he added, "What an amazing moment at Khelo India Zanskar Winter Sports Festival. Despite the weather being extremely chilling at minus-29°C, the warmth of the Ladakhi people has lit up the atmosphere."

 

 

Zanskar Winter Sports and Youth Festival 2021 started on January 18 and will take place till January 30. A host of outdoor activities are being organised in the picturesque Zanskar Valley of the Union Territory of Ladakh. Organised by Ladakh administration, the main attractions of the first-ever Zanskar Winter Sports and Youth Festival are Chadar trek, snow skiing, snow scooter and hiking, ice hockey, and others.

 

Rijiju attended the festival and said that he will create sports facilities in every village of Leh and Ladakh. "In the next two to two and a half years, we will create sports facilities in all small districts in Kargil, Leh and all the adjoining areas. We will provide astroturf, athletics synthetic track, archery centres and so on. We will also provide Ladakh with India's largest ice hockey centre," Rijiju said.

 

Chairman and Chief Executive Councillor, Leh Advocate Tashi Gyaltson, Executive Councilor for Tourism and Zanskar Affairs Er Phunsog Tashi, Secretary Sports UT Ladakh Ravinder Kumar, Deputy Commissioner/CEO, LAHDC, Kargil Baseer ul Haq Choudhary, SP Kargil Anayat Ali Choudhary, Councillors, representatives of religious and social organizations, PRI members, district and sub divisional officers, participants and large number of sports lovers were present on the occasion.

 

Meanwhile, 13 days Zanskar Winter and Youth Festival 2021 will involve various cultural and sports activities like ice hockey, snow skiing, horse riding, yak riding, ice climbing, snow sculpture, archery matches, local food festival, yoga and meditation sessions and other related activities are being held. Around 700 people from various different parts of Zanskar are participating in the event.