Leh (Ladakh): Seventeen-year-old Gauri Rai of Haryana delivered a standout performance at the first leg of the Khelo India Winter Games (KIWG) 2026 in Leh, clinching the gold medal in the advanced figure skating category at the Nawang Dorjay Stobdan (NDS) Stadium on Wednesday.
With figure skating being introduced at the KIWG for the first time, Gauri etched her name in the event’s history books.
The Gurugram-based skater surprised many by finishing ahead of pre-event favourite Jessy Raj Mathrapu of Andhra Pradesh, underlining the growing depth of figure skating talent in India. Gauri, who began her sporting journey as a roller skater, switched to figure skating in 2017 after witnessing a live demonstration at a mall in Gurugram — a moment she describes as life-changing.
“Roller skating was something I did for a long time, but I wanted a sport that combined speed with grace. Watching figure skating for the first time made that decision clear,” Gauri said. Since then, her journey has taken her from quad and inline skating to competitive figure skating, including international outings in South Korea, Singapore, the Philippines and Bulgaria. She also won a silver medal representing India at the United Arab Emirates Figure Skating Championship in Dubai in 2022.
Despite the gold-medal finish, Gauri admitted she was not fully confident going into her routine due to the challenges posed by Leh’s high altitude. “I was out of breath during my performance and couldn’t give my best. Altitude is something I’m not used to. Jessy had a fall, which changed the standings, but I’m grateful for the win,” she said, adding that her parents’ belief in her never wavered.
Currently studying at Manav Rachna International School in Gurugram, Gauri praised the organisers for the quality of facilities at the Games. She thanked the Sports Authority of India for hosting what she described as a “world-class event,” highlighting the smooth ice surface, accommodation, logistics and media coverage that helped bring attention to a relatively new sport in the country.
While optimistic about the future of figure skating in India, Gauri stressed the urgent need for improved infrastructure to meet international standards. “International skaters train for up to 16 hours a day. We need more Olympic-size artificial ice rinks. At present, there are only two in the country, including the one in Dehradun. Better infrastructure is the only way we can consistently produce world-class athletes,” she said.
Gauri now has her sights set on the upcoming International Skating Union seminar, scheduled for March or April, where athletes are assessed for readiness to compete at the global level.
