Srinagar: The Chinar Open Winter Games 2026, a flagship initiative of the Indian Army, concluded successfully at the snow-covered slopes of Gulmarg on Thursday, drawing large participation and public enthusiasm.
Organised under the aegis of the Dagger Division of the Chinar Corps, the event celebrated sportsmanship, community engagement and youth participation in winter sports, an official spokesperson said.
According to PRO (Defence), Srinagar, the Games provided a platform for the youth of Kashmir to showcase talent and channelise their energy into competitive and constructive pursuits.
This year’s edition recorded participation of 660 athletes, including 166 girls and 494 boys, competing across eight disciplines — reflecting growing interest in winter sports in the Valley and increasing involvement of women athletes.
The competitions featured skiing races, snowboarding events and skating performances, with participants competing alongside some of the region’s leading winter sports athletes. The event also attracted large gatherings of locals, tourists and sports enthusiasts.
The highlight of the Games was the visit of Lt Gen Pratik Sharma, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command, who interacted with participants, organisers and members of the local community.
He lauded the organisation of the event and appreciated the standard of sportsmanship displayed by the athletes.
PRO (Defence), Srinagar quoted the Northern Command chief as saying that the initiative aims to channelise the aspirations of Kashmir’s youth towards constructive nation-building activities and reaffirm the Army’s commitment to fostering peace, progress and opportunities through sports.
The spokesperson said the Games also underlined the Army’s engagement with local communities and its efforts to promote sports and nurture young talent while supporting Gulmarg’s emergence as a premier winter sports destination.
With the conclusion of the event, the Games were described as a reflection of Kashmir’s expanding sporting culture and the growing prominence of Gulmarg as a hub of winter sports in the country.
