GULMARG, FEBRUARY 26: For Renu Danu, the snow-covered slopes of Gulmarg once felt unfamiliar and distant. Today, they are where she has carved her identity as one of India’s rising winter sports athletes.
The 26-year-old Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) constable clinched three silver medals at the Khelo India Winter Games 2026, marking a remarkable journey that began only two years ago when she first saw snow.
Renu, the daughter of a truck driver from Haldwani in Uttarakhand, had no exposure to winter sports during her childhood. Instead, she grew up playing kabaddi and running races, unknowingly building the endurance that would later help her excel in Nordic skiing.
“I didn’t even know what Nordic skiing or ski mountaineering were. My family understands sports like cricket and football, but they only see videos of me now,” she says with a smile.
A journey shaped by discipline
Renu joined the CRPF in 2021, seeking stability and security. Her posting in Srinagar in 2024 changed everything. It was in Gulmarg that she first encountered snow and began training for winter sports.
After just one month of preparation, she competed in the 2024 Khelo India Winter Games. She did not win, but finishing the races gave her confidence.
“I was new and didn’t know the techniques, but completing the races gave me belief,” she recalls.
The following year, she showed steady progress, finishing fourth in a Nordic event and winning silver in the ski mountaineering relay. She also secured gold at the National Winter Biathlon Championship in Gulmarg.
Breakthrough at KIWG 2026
This year marked her breakthrough, with three silver medals in:
Women’s Nordic 15-km
Women’s Nordic 1.5-km sprint
Women’s ski mountaineering relay
Her coaches credit her work ethic and determination. Olympian coach Nadeem Iqbal and CRPF coach K.K. Shukla guided her technical development, while team manager Magesh K supported her journey.
“When she started, she knew nothing about winter sports, but she worked harder than anyone. Her future is bright,” Shukla says.
Vision for the future
Renu believes winter sports in India need better infrastructure. “We only get two months to train. Imagine what we could achieve with year-round facilities, artificial snow tracks and better gyms,” she says.
She now aims to compete in FIS events, World Championships and the Olympics, hoping to inspire young athletes from non-snow regions.
“Some girls think winter sports require too much endurance. But if I can do it, anyone can,” she adds.
From a town without snow to standing on the podium in Gulmarg, Renu’s journey reflects resilience and determination. For her, these silver medals are not near misses but milestones—proof that India’s winter sports story is evolving and that athletes from unlikely backgrounds are ready to shape its future.
