GULMARG, FEBRUARY 25: In a country where winter sports often seem distant to those from warmer regions, Bhavani Thekkeda Nanjunda has carved a remarkable journey from the coffee-scented hills of Kodagu in Karnataka to the snow-covered slopes of Gulmarg.
The 30-year-old skier clinched gold in the Nordic women’s 1.5 km sprint at the Khelo India Winter Games 2026, adding to her two earlier bronze medals in the 15-km and 10-km relays this season.
Bhavani, the daughter of a coffee farmer, first encountered snow only at the age of 23. On Tuesday, at an altitude of over 8,700 feet, she surged ahead to claim the sprint title, marking a defining moment in her career.
“This is for my parents. Though I participate in winter sports, my mother and father have never seen snow. I hope they will one day come to Gulmarg and watch me win,” she said after the victory.
Her journey is one of perseverance. Growing up in southern India, she had no access to snow, ski tracks or winter sports infrastructure. Yet, with the support of her family especially her father, who believed in her dream, Bhavani pursued mountaineering in 2014, became a certified ski instructor and gradually moved into competitive cross-country skiing.
She has since become a pioneer in Indian winter sports. In 2025, she became the first Indian woman to win a medal at a Fédération Internationale de Ski et de Snowboard (FIS)-accredited cross-country skiing event, clinching bronze at the South America Cup in Chile. She has also represented India at the Nordic World Championships in 2023 and 2025 and competed in all editions of the Khelo India Winter Games.
Bhavani credits institutions such as the High Altitude Warfare School (HAWS), Indian Institute of Skiing and Mountaineering (IISM) and Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering and Winter Sports (JIM & WS) for opening pathways for athletes from across the country.
She also acknowledged the support of the Reliance Foundation, which sponsors young winter sports athletes.
Highlighting the growing interest in winter sports, she welcomed the Jammu and Kashmir government’s initiative to train youth from across India.
“If I could excel despite starting late, imagine what young athletes can achieve with early training and proper facilities,” she said.
Looking ahead, Bhavani has set her sights on the 2029 Asian Winter Games in Almaty, aiming to further elevate India’s presence in winter sports.
From a childhood inspired by mountains seen in films to standing atop the podium in Gulmarg, Bhavani’s story reflects resilience and belief.
Her victory, she says, is not just about medals but about proving that winter sports dreams can emerge even from regions where snow has never fallen.
