Leh, Dec 09: In a groundbreaking collaboration between the Administration of the Union Territory of Ladakh and Royal Enfield, the inaugural Royal Enfield Ice Hockey League has been unveiled. The league aims to identify and foster ice hockey talent across Ladakh’s seven zones, following the strategic roadmap outlined in “The Game Changer – Blueprint for the Development of Ice Hockey in Ladakh.”
Launched in Delhi by Anurag Singh Thakur, Hon’ble Union Minister of Information & Broadcasting and Youth Affairs & Sports, the blueprint was meticulously crafted by Royal Enfield in collaboration with various stakeholders. Endorsed by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), the blueprint envisions holistic development and aspires to field an Indian Ice Hockey contingent at the 2042 Winter Olympics.
Moses Kunzang, Joint Director of the Department of Youth Services and Sports (DYSS), emphasized, “The start of a competitive league will go a long way in nurturing local talent and also scouting talent from the rural areas of the seven zones.”
The league’s initiation involves the establishment of ice hockey training camps across Ladakh’s seven zones to identify and scout local talent. Selections will be made by a committee comprising members from DYSS, Ice Hockey Association for Ladakh (IHAL), Zonal Heads, and 20 Ladakhi coaches trained by German coaches.
Candidates, eligible for the training camps open exclusively to Ladakh’s civilian population, must possess basic ice-skating skills. Those interested can register through local clubs. The league will feature 15 teams, with 10 for men and 5 for women. Men’s teams will be divided into two groups, engaging in group-stage matches. The top four from each group will proceed to the knockout rounds in January 2024, leading to the grand final in Leh.
Detailed plans for training camps, match schedules, and knockout stages will be announced soon. Notable figures such as Noor Jahan, goalie for the Indian Women’s Ice Hockey team, Diskit Angmo, Spokesperson for the Indian Women’s Ice Hockey team, and other stakeholders participated in the virtual press conference held at the UT Secretariat, marking a momentous step towards the development of ice hockey talent in the region.
