Khelo India Winter Games 2026: Haryana Lead with Two Figure Skating Golds; Kerala, Uttarakhand Win One Each

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Leh (Ladakh), Jan 21: Haryana surged to the top of the medals table on Day 2 of the Khelo India Winter Games 2026, clinching two gold medals in figure skating as the discipline made its debut at the Games.

Kerala and Uttarakhand picked up one gold each, while hosts Ladakh beat ITBP by a 3-1 margin in a gripping men's ice-hockey Group B match at the Nawang Dorjan Stobdan Stadium.

Figure Skating Debut Delivers Four Gold Medals

All four gold medals decided on Wednesday came from figure skating, underlining a successful first appearance for the Olympic discipline at the Ladakh leg of KIWG 2026. In total, 20 skaters from five states and two Union Territories competed across Novice Free Skating and Advanced Short Programme categories.

Haryana emerged the biggest winners with five medals overall (two gold, one silver, two bronze), setting the early pace in the standings.

Hiya Adlakha Opens the Gold Rush

The first gold of the Games went to Hiya Adlakha of Haryana in Novice Girls Free Skating. The 15-year-old outscored a strong Ladakh challenge, with Stanzin Khando taking silver and Tenzin Kunzin bronze for the hosts.

Raised in a sports-oriented family-her mother is an international gymnastics judge-Hiya has pursued figure skating despite limited coaching resources, often training alone. Her rapid rise saw her attend an Olympic Council of Asia training camp in China and win a national gold medal in 2025. Competing globally in the Intermediate Novice category, Hiya continues to chase World Cup and Olympic ambitions.

Haryana and Kerala Share Advanced Honours

In Advanced Girls Short Programme, Haryana's Gauri Rai delivered a composed performance to claim gold. A Class XII student of Manav Rachna International School, Gurugram, Gauri has already amassed 10 national medals and represented India internationally.

"This gold medal is not just a win for me, it is a reward for years of discipline, early mornings, falls on ice, and never giving up," Gauri told SAI Media. "When I am on ice, I feel fearless and free. I dream of representing India on the biggest global platforms and inspiring young girls. "

Kerala's Abhijith Amal Raj was the standout in Advanced Boys Short Programme, topping a nine-skater field with superior scores across composition, presentation and skating skills. Telangana's Padiga Tejesh finished second, while Haryana's Jatin Sherawat secured bronze.

In Novice Boys Free Skating, Adarsh Singh Rawat of Uttarakhand won gold, ahead of Kapish Kaushik (Haryana) and Arush Tiwari (Delhi).

Judging was overseen by a referee and a technical controller from Taipei, with the event conducted by the Youth Services and Sports Department of Ladakh in association with the Sports Authority of India, and technical conduct handled by National Sports Federations.

Ice Hockey: Ladakh Edge ITBP in Physical Contest

Ice hockey-Ladakh's marquee sport-once again drew a vocal crowd. In the men's Group B match, hosts Ladakh defeated ITBP 3-1 in a fast, physical contest.

Stanzin Angchol struck in the opening minute to put Ladakh ahead. ITBP equalised in the 10th minute of the second period through Nawang Zangpo, despite being a man down, injecting renewed intensity into the match. However, Ladakh sealed the win with two third-period goals by Tsering Angchuk, capitalising on sustained pressure.