The Samikhsya Bureau
NEW DELHI: The 13 day long Khelo India Zanskar winter sports and youth festival concluded at Zanskar Valley of the Union Territory of Ladakh on Saturday.
The festival, first of its kind, was organized by the Department of Sports & Youth Services under the Khelo India banner in collaboration with the Ladakh Tourism Department.
The festival was organised to showcase potential in adventure tourism and sports and aims to open a new arena in Ladakh for adventure and economy.
It is one of the biggest events that has been organised to promote winter tourism in Ladakh.
The winter festival showcased a host of outdoor activities and sporting events like ice hockey, snow skiing, yalk and horse riding, ice climbing and archery.
Events of social and cultural importance like snow sculpting, food festival, yoga and meditation were also the part of the festival.
Appreciation certificates were distributed among athletes, coaches, organizers and other participants.
Various sporting teams, Zanskar students Association and other cultural troupes presented colourful folk songs and dances on the occasion. Around 700 people from various different parts of Zanskar participated in the event.
The Union Sports Ministry plans to provide sports facilities in all regions of Ladakh. It aims to promote Ladakh as a centre for Ice Hockey and soon open a centre for archery and polo in two areas in the region, the Ministry officials maintained.
