Leh: From Haryana’s plains to Leh’s icy altitude, Seventeen-year-old Gauri Rai Gauri Rai’s gold medal in the advanced figure skating category at the 2026 Khelo India Winter Games (KIWG) in Leh, marking a historic moment as figure skating made its debut at the national winter sports event.
Competing at the Nawang Dorjan Stobdan Stadium, Gauri outperformed Andhra Pradesh’s Jessy Raj Mathrapu, the pre-event favourite, to secure the top podium finish. The victory also underlined the growing footprint of figure skating in India, even as athletes continue to grapple with limited infrastructure and training facilities.
Gauri, who resides in Gurugram, began her sporting career as a roller skater before switching to figure skating in 2017 after watching a performance at a mall in the city.
Since then, she has represented India in several international competitions, including events in South Korea, Singapore, the Philippines and Bulgaria, and won a silver medal at the UAE Figure Skating Championship in Dubai in 2022.
Speaking after her win, Gauri said she was not fully confident of securing gold due to the challenges posed by high altitude in Leh. “I was out of breath during my performance and couldn’t give my best because I am not used to this altitude. My competitor had a fall, which helped me finish on top,” she said.
She credited the Khelo India initiative and the Sports Authority of India for organising the event and providing quality facilities. “The ice surface here is very smooth, and the arrangements for accommodation, food and transport were excellent. Media coverage is important for a new sport like figure skating in India,” she said.
However, Gauri also highlighted the structural limitations faced by Indian figure skaters.
“Athletes in other countries practise for long hours every day. We need more Olympic-size artificial ice rinks in India. At present, there are only two such facilities in the country,” she said.
Officials said the inclusion of figure skating in KIWG 2026 is expected to provide a platform for young athletes and boost winter sports development in India.
Gauri is now preparing for an International Skating Union seminar scheduled for March or April, where she will undergo assessment tests for participation in international competitions.
