Gulmarg, March 1 -- The medals glittered under the pale mountain sun at the Khelo India Winter Games, but many of the athletes did not credit the podium for their success. Instead, they pointed uphill - toward the snow-covered ridges above Gulmarg and the disciplined training environment of the Indian Army's High Altitude Warfare School (HAWS).

At the 6th edition of the Khelo India Winter Games, held from February 23 to 26, competitors representing states, Union Territories and institutional teams - including the Indian Army, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) - repeatedly credited HAWS for their performance, calling it the foundation of India's modern winter sports ecosystem.

Originally establishe...