Samina Khatoon: Kargil’s trailblazing Ice Hockey star inspires Ladakhi women

Samina Khatoon: Kargil’s trailblazing Ice Hockey star inspires Ladakhi women
Samina Khatoon: Kargil’s trailblazing Ice Hockey star inspires Ladakhi women

Excelsior Sports Correspondent
KARGIL, Jan 28: Fifteen-year-old Samina Khatoon has become a trailblazer in Ladakh’s ice hockey scene, inspiring women across the region to break gender barriers in sports. A student of Mutahhary Public School in Kargil, Samina is the youngest member of Ladakh’s Women Ice Hockey Team at the Khelo India Winter Games 2025 (KIWG) in Leh.
Samina’s journey began in 2020 when, despite her mother’s concerns about the sport, she took up ice hockey after discovering a pair of unused skiing boots at home. Juggling her studies with rigorous practice, she quickly rose through the ranks, eventually making her mark as the youngest player in Ladakh’s Women Ice Hockey Team. Samina’s talent was on full display at the KIWG, where she scored a goal in Ladakh’s 4-0 victory over ITBP.
Her rise in the sport reflects the changing landscape of sports for women in Kargil. The district has witnessed a surge in female participation in Ice Hockey; with over six women’s ice hockey clubs established across different villages. Support from local clubs, like the Downhill Kargil Adventure Sports Club, has been crucial in nurturing young talent, with Samina being a standout example.
Samina, who was recently appointed Assistant Captain of the UT Women’s Ice Hockey Team, hopes to continue her journey and inspire more girls to take up the sport. “I have a lot to learn and a long way to go,” she says, with unwavering determination to achieve even greater heights in ice hockey.