Ladakh had a day of triumph and challenge at the ongoing Khelo India Winter Games, achieving a historic gold in the women’s short track 1600m relay while facing defeat in the men’s ice-hockey semi-final against ITBP.
The Ladakh quartet of Skarma Tsultim, Insha Fatima, Tasnia Shamim, and Padma Angmo scripted history by securing the first-ever gold in the women’s short track relay at the NDS sports complex in Leh. Clocking an impressive 3:55.80, they outpaced Maharashtra (4:17.12) by a considerable margin.
On the other side of the competition, Ladakh’s men’s ice-hockey team faced a tough challenge against a formidable ITBP, succumbing to a 0-4 defeat in the semi-final match. Despite the setback, the Ladakh team exhibited resilience against a powerful opponent.
In the second semi-final, the Army demonstrated dominance over Himachal Pradesh with a convincing 10-2 victory. Konchok Namgail (three) and Rigzin Norboo (two) emerged as the main scorers for the winning team.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra continued to strengthen its position in the standings by adding two more gold medals in skating. The golds came in the men’s short track (1600m) relay and the mixed short track relay over the same distance. Karnataka maintains the overall lead with four gold medals.
Maharashtra’s success in the relays was evident, with their skaters accumulating a total of 13 silver and bronze medals out of a possible 22. With eleven skating gold medals decided in the Games so far, the state’s dominance in the discipline remains unchallenged.
The Ladakh women’s short track gold marked a momentous achievement, providing a breath of fresh air on a cold day characterized by overnight snowfall. The efforts of the NDS groundstaff in preparing the rink for the skating competition were commendable, setting the stage for remarkable performances amidst challenging weather conditions.