Amid fashion show row, athletes battle for supremacy during Khelo India Winter Games at Gulmarg

Gulmarg: Despite the controversy surrounding a fashion show held during the fasting month of Ramazan at this north Kashmir ski resort, athletes from across the country are competing for dominance in various snow sports events at the ongoing Khelo India Winter Games (KIWG) in Gulmarg.

The 5th edition of the KIWG, which began on March 9, is progressing as scheduled, with participants displaying their skills in events like vertical ski mountaineering, snowboard giant slalom, and Nordic ski sprint amid fresh snowfall.

Recently, the fashion show, organized by designers Shivam Bhatiya and Narresh Kukreja on March 7, sparked significant debate. Held during the holy month of Ramazan, it featured models walking down a snow-covered ramp, which drew sharp criticism.

Prominent political and religious figures, including Kashmir’s chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, have condemned the event, calling it “outrageous” and inappropriate for Ramazan. Mirwaiz, also the chairman of the Hurriyat Conference, described such displays of “obscenity” under the guise of promoting tourism as unacceptable.

Despite the backlash, the snow sports competitions continue on the snow-covered meadows of Gulmarg. The games were officially inaugurated by J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on March 9 and are set to conclude on March 12.

Over the past few days, hundreds of athletes have competed for titles in various snow sports, including vertical ski mountaineering, snowboard giant slalom, and sprint.

Siddhartha Gadekar from Pune, who won the gold medal in the men’s vertical ski mountaineering event, attributed his victory to rigorous endurance training and expressed his hopes of performing well in international events.

In the women’s Alpine Giant Slalom, athletes from Himachal Pradesh dominated the podium, with Anchal Thakur, Tanuja Thakur, and Suhani Thakur claiming gold, silver, and bronze, respectively, to the cheers of spectators.

The event, initially scheduled for February 22-25, was postponed due to a prolonged dry spell in the valley. However, by the end of February, Gulmarg’s alpine slopes were blanketed in snow, creating perfect conditions for the games.

To ensure the safe and smooth conduct of the event, a multi-layered security plan has been put in place.