Gulmarg March 1: The High Altitude Warfare School (HAWS) in Gulmarg has emerged as a key force behind India’s growing success in winter sports, with athletes at the 6th edition of the Khelo India Winter Games 2026 crediting the elite military institution for their podium finishes.
Held from February 23 to 26, the Games saw dominant performances by athletes from the Indian Army, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), many of whom trained at HAWS. The school also drew national attention after Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya visited the facility on February 26.
Located at nearly 9,000 feet, HAWS was founded in December 1948 by General K S Thimayya as the 19 Infantry Division Ski School. Over decades, it evolved into India’s premier centre for snowcraft and winter warfare. Alongside its military mandate, the institution has quietly built a structured system for grooming competitive winter athletes.
At KIWG 2026, Army athletes swept multiple Nordic skiing events, while CRPF and ITBP competitors also secured medals. Several athletes said short- and long-term training stints at HAWS transformed them from first-time skiers into national-level competitors within months.
According to Indian Army officials, HAWS annually trains around 250–300 Army athletes across Alpine, Nordic, snowboarding and mountain skiing disciplines, while also supporting select civilian and other force personnel. The programme includes high-altitude conditioning, international-standard coaching, ski simulators, summer roller-ski training, sports science support and structured nutrition plans.
Coaches said expert trainers from Europe and Central Asia help align techniques with global standards, while Gulmarg’s altitude provides a natural endurance advantage. Officials from the CRPF confirmed that sustained access to HAWS infrastructure and Army coaches has significantly improved their athletes’ performances.
