India Makes Big Ski Leap at Asian Championships in Harbin
Shimla/NewDelhi/Harbin(China): India signalled a big leap in winter sports as its athletes stormed into the top ranks on the opening day of the 2026 ISMF Asian Ski Mountaineering Championships at the Yabuli Ski Resort, with all three competitors finishing in the top-10 of the gruelling Vertical race.
Leading the charge in the men’s category, Siddharth Gadekar clinched an impressive 7th place, while Shardul Thapliyal followed close behind in 8th position. In the women’s race, India’s lone entrant Kaamya Karthikeyan matched the feat with a strong 7th place finish.
The triple top-10 finish marks India’s best collective performance at an Asian-level ski mountaineering championship, underlining the rapid rise of the sport in the Himalayas. All three athletes had earlier impressed at the Khelo India Winter Games in Gulmarg.
President of the SkiMo India Federation, Praveen Sood (Pintu), said the results reflect four years of sustained efforts to develop ski mountaineering in India under the framework of the International Ski Mountaineering Federation.
Calling it a proud moment, he said the strong start in Harbin shows India is steadily emerging as a serious contender in winter sports. The Indian team will now compete in two more events as the championship continues till March 20.