Excelsior Sports Correspondent
LEH, Feb 6: Ever since Ladakh was separated from Jammu and Kashmir and given Union Territory status in October 2019, the men’s and women’s teams have found their own identities in Indian ice-hockey.
The men’s team created history at the 13th National Ice-hockey Championships held in Kaza, Himachal Pradesh in January 2024 and clinched the national title. It was a dream that came true after 11 years. Ladakhi women finished with the silver after losing to ITBP by 2-1.
“The gold at Kaza is just the beginning. We hope to bring gold next year as well and the year after that too,” said youngster Ghulam Mustafa.
Ice-hockey has been dominated by the Army and ITBP teams. To challenge them and win the nationals as an Independent UT has indeed been a creditable performance. Ladakh women, of course, have done relatively better than the men, having won the gold in 2022 and the silver medals in 2021, 2023 and 2024. Ladakh men won silver in 2021 nationals and bronze in 2022 and 2023.
At the Khelo India Winter Games 2024 in Leh, Ladakh teams made a good impression. For 24-year-old Stanzin Angchok, the captain of the Ladakh men’s team, it’s been quite a journey. “Our current team consists of young players and we as a team have received a lot of help from the Ice-Hockey Association of Ladakh as well as Ice-Hockey Association of India. There is a stereotype specially in Ladakh that Army and ITBP teams are the ones that are always in the final. This, we have broken at the Kaza nationals,” said Stanzin.
Tsewang Gyalson is a superstar in the Ladakh men’s team. The defender was India captain from 2015 to 2019. He emphasizes the importance of rearing a team made of civilians. “It’s a great opportunity for Ladakhis. My hope is that we can represent India on the international front and be regarded as a great team,” said Gyalson.
“The selection for the UT Ladakh teams happens by a committee that focuses on key areas like skating, puck handling, agility, positioning, etc. Discipline is a very important factor for the team. This led to our win at Kaza,” said current men’s coach Karma Rigyal Stan.
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