Gulmarg’s snowy slopes witnessed a historic moment as the 6th Khelo India Winter Games unfolded with remarkable performances from athletes across India. But behind the gleaming medals, there’s a powerhouse institution shaping these victors: the High Altitude Warfare School (HWS).
Athletes from states, the Army, CRPF, and ITBP unanimously credit HWS for their edge. Established in December 1948 by Brigadier General K.S. Thimayya as the 19th Infantry Division Ski School, it evolved into a premier winter warfare training hub. By 1962, it earned A-category status, renowned for high-altitude combat and snow survival skills.
Today, HWS’s slopes host not just soldiers but aspiring sports stars. Take Kajal Kumari Rai, a 25-year-old from Shillong. Before 2024, she’d never touched snow. A mere 15 days at HWS transformed her into the Nordic 15km and 10km sprint champion. ‘Joining CRPF gave me direction, but HWS and the Army built my confidence,’ she shared.
Karnataka’s Bhavani T.N., 23, followed suit. With no prior snow experience, she clinched gold in the women’s 1.5km Nordic sprint and bronzes in 15km and 10km events, thanks to HWS and the Indian Institute of Skiing and Mountaineering (IISM).
In men’s Nordic 10km, the Army swept gold, silver, and bronze with Padma Namgyel, Aman, and Manjeet shining. The 1.5km sprint saw Sunny Singh, Shubham Parihar, and Manjeet dominate. ‘HWS isn’t just for the Army; it preps athletes from all forces and states,’ Namgyel said. ‘No shortages in funding, coaching, or competitions—top talents even head to Europe. Tough tracks and hard snow? We’re always ready.’
HWS trains 250-300 military athletes and 5-10 civilians yearly, boasting alpine ski simulators, roller skis, gyms, and indoor complexes. Diets, fitness regimens, and gear match global standards. CRPF athletes, too, are elevating their game post-HWS.
As medals adorn necks in Gulmarg, the true architect of this success remains HWS—forging champions from raw talent on unforgiving terrains.