High-Level Meeting at Khelo India Winter Games Arena, Leh, Focuses on Grassroots and Competitive Development of Curling
A delegation of the Curling Federation of India (CFI), led by its President Dr. Rashmi Saluja, met with Mr. Moses Kunzang, Secretary, Department of Youth Services & Sports, Union Territory of Ladakh, at the newly inaugurated Khelo India Winter Games Arena in Leh. The meeting marked an important step toward strengthening the development of curling and winter sports infrastructure in the region.
The interaction was held at the state-of-the-art Khelo India Winter Games Arena, a landmark facility aimed at promoting winter sports in India’s high-altitude regions. Discussions focused on positioning Ladakh as a national hub for curling, leveraging its climatic conditions, local enthusiasm, and growing sports infrastructure.
The CFI delegation included Mr. P. N. Raju, International Athlete and Chair of the Athletes Committee – CFI; Mr. Ali Asgar, President, Ladakh Curling Association; and Mr. Shubham Gupta, Chief Operating Officer – CFI and Vice President, Ladakh Curling Association. Their collective presence reflected a strong collaborative approach between national and regional stakeholders committed to nurturing the sport.
Key areas of discussion included athlete identification, structured training programs, capacity building for coaches and officials, and the organization of national and international curling events in Ladakh. The importance of grassroots engagement, especially among local youth, was emphasized as a means to create a sustainable pipeline of talent for future competitions.
Mr. Moses Kunzang welcomed the initiative and acknowledged the potential of curling to emerge as a flagship winter sport for Ladakh. He reiterated the administration’s commitment to supporting sports development through policy support, infrastructure enhancement, and collaboration with national federations.
Dr. Rashmi Saluja highlighted the Curling Federation of India’s vision to expand the sport across India, with Ladakh playing a pivotal role due to its natural advantage and strong community interest. She emphasized that partnerships with the UT administration would be crucial in creating long-term impact and international competitiveness.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to work closely toward making Ladakh a center of excellence for curling, contributing to India’s growing presence in winter sports on the global stage.
