Manali girl wins 2 golds in national Winter Games

Abhinav Vashisht

Kullu, March 4

Girls of Himachal have bagged various medals in the 2nd Khelo India National Winter Games being held at Gulmarg in Kashmir. Anchal Thakur of Manali has won gold medals in Giant Slalom and Slalom events while Varsha has bagged a silver medal in Giant Slalom and a bronze medal in Slalom. Sandhya has won a silver medal in Slalom while Tanuja has won a bronze medal in Giant Slalom, said Himachal Pradesh Winter Games Association (HPWGA) president Luder Thakur.

Anchal’s father Roshan Thakur is a former secretary-general of the erstwhile Winter Games Federation of India and had led several Indian contingents in international and Olympics winter games. He was happy with the excellent performance of his daughter. He said that Anchal deserved a big applause for her commendable achievement in skiing.

Anchal had participated in International Ski Federation (FIS) competitions in Europe, Japan, New Zealand and Russia. She had participated in the Youth Winter Olympics held in Austria in 2012 and the Asian Winter Games in Japan in 2017. She had participated in four World Championships in Schladming, Austria, in 2013; Beaver Creek, USA, in 2015; St Mortis, Switzerland, in 2017; and Cortina, Italy, in 2021.

Anchal won her first medal in Slalom in the FIS International Alpine Ski competition in 2018 in Turkey. She had won a number of medals in the national championships. She has been honoured with the Himachal Gaurav award, Himachal top sports award Parshuram and many other honours.

Roshan said Anchal was now looking to qualify for the next Winter Olympics to be held in 2022. He appealed to the government to sponsor her Olympics programme to encourage and motivate other youths to excel in winter sports.