Leh (Ladakh), Jan 25,
Heartbreak marked Ladakh’s campaign on the penultimate day of the 6th Khelo India Winter Games (KIWG) 2026 as the hosts narrowly missed defending their women’s ice-hockey title, losing 2–1 to ITBP in extra time at the Nawang Dorjay Stobdan (NDS) Stadium on Sunday evening.
In a repeat of last year’s final, Ladakh appeared on course for another gold after Shamina Khatoon put the hosts ahead in the 17th minute. However, ITBP’s Stanzin Dolkar—popularly known as Tani—produced a sensational equaliser in the third period to force extra time. Just nine seconds into the additional period, Dolkar struck again from a crowded goalmouth, netting the golden goal and silencing the home crowd.
The loss was a crushing blow for Ladakh, but the hosts found some consolation earlier in the day when their men’s ice-hockey team secured the bronze medal. Recovering from a dramatic semifinal defeat to Chandigarh, Ladakh men displayed renewed purpose to edge past ITBP 3–2 in the bronze-medal match. The win also underlined Ladakh’s consistency, having beaten ITBP 3–1 in the league stage earlier.
Despite the women’s final setback, Ladakh remain second on the overall medal table with two gold medals, behind leaders Haryana, who continue to top the standings with four golds as the Games head into the final day. Telangana also have two golds but trail Ladakh on silver count.
Meanwhile, Telangana’s Calgary-based teenager Nayana Sri Talluri continued her remarkable run at KIWG 2026, clinching her second consecutive gold medal in the women’s 1000m short track ice skating event at NDS Stadium. Showing tactical maturity, Nayana accelerated midway through the race and held off a strong challenge from Maharashtra’s Anvayee Deshpande to win gold in 1:43.32 seconds. Anvayee took silver (1:43.43), while Schaleen Fernandes secured bronze (1:46.41).
Nayana became the third skater at these Games to win two individual gold medals, joining Haryana’s Sachin Singh and Ladakh’s Skarma Tsultim, both of whom also have two golds each. Skarma, however, endured a tough morning, crashing out of the short-track final while attempting to accelerate.
Maharashtra opened their gold account on Sunday through Ishaan Darvekar, who won the men’s 1000m short track title with a timing of 1:35.57 seconds. Telangana skaters claimed both silver and bronze in the event. Later in the day, Karnataka celebrated their first gold of KIWG 2026 as 18-year-old Srivatsa S Rao dominated the men’s 1000m long track race at Gupukh’s Pond, finishing in 1:36.64. Tamil Nadu’s Avikshith Vijay and Selva Kumar M completed the podium.
“I hope one day I win an Olympic medal for my country. That’s my ultimate aim,” Srivatsa said after his victory.
With one day of competition remaining, Ladakh’s athletes remain firmly in the hunt to add to their medal tally, even as Sunday’s women’s ice-hockey final will be remembered as one of the most dramatic moments of Khelo India Winter Games 2026.
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