On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with the Indian Special Olympics World Winter Games 2025 delegation in Parliament and congratulated them on their outstanding performances. India won 33 medals, including 8 gold, 18 silver, and 7 bronze, at the tournament held in Turin, Italy. PM Modi expressed his pride on X, writing, “Our athletes have brought glory to the nation.”
The 30-person Indian team, aided by 19 staff members, competed in six disciplines: alpine skiing, snowboarding, floorball, snowshoeing, short-track speed skating, and cross-country skiing. Snowshoeing and alpine skiing each won ten medals for the country, with snowboarding contributing six. Short-track speed skating, cross-country skiing, and floorball earned four, two, and one medal, respectively.
Recognizing their efforts, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports announced an increase in cash prizes. The gold medalists will receive Rs. 20 lakhs, the silver winners Rs. 14 lakhs, and the bronze medalists Rs. 8 lakhs. The Union Sports Ministry has prioritized support for specially abled athletes, with the SAI sponsoring 11 national coaching camps in several locations. SAI also provided training equipment and covered the contingent’s flight, boarding, and hotel expenses.
The Special Olympics World Winter Games featured 1,500 competitors from 102 countries, including India’s largest-ever squad.
